The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers tip off their first-round playoff battle on Saturday afternoon in what promises to be one of the most evenly matched series of the postseason, with both teams finishing the regular season with identical 50-32 records.
While the Nuggets enter as slight 2.5-point favorites at home and hold the higher seed, they face significant questions after shockingly parting ways with head coach Michael Malone just days before the playoffs began.
The red-hot Clippers, winners of their last eight regular season games, will look to capitalize on Denver's potential disarray, though they'll need former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to maintain his health after appearing in just 37 games this season.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers matchup, our predictive model gives the Nuggets a 65% chance of defeating the Clips.
Denver Nuggets: 65% win probability
- Offensive firepower (9902 points scored, highest in the Western Conference)
- Strong home court advantage (50-32 overall record, 4th in Western Conference)
- Momentum heading into the matchup (Recent form shows 3 wins in last 5 games)
Los Angeles Clippers: 35% win probability
- Road game disadvantage (Despite 50-32 record, playing away from Crypto.com Arena)
- Defensive vulnerability (8874 points allowed, though respectable, still vulnerable to Denver's league-leading offense)
- Historical matchup struggles (Both teams have identical 50-32 records, but Denver's home court tips the scale significantly)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers odds
Here are the latest odds as the Denver Nuggets host the Los Angeles Clippers in NBA action on Saturday, April 19.
| Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Clippers | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -135 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | +120 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) |
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Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers preview
The Nuggets and Clippers renew their rivalry as a fascinating first-round playoff matchup gets underway Saturday afternoon at Ball Arena, with both teams remarkably finishing the regular season with identical 50-32 records.
Denver comes in with questions swirling after the shocking dismissal of longtime coach Michael Malone just before the playoffs, while the Clippers arrive riding an impressive eight-game winning streak.
Nikola Jokic's historic triple-double season (29.6 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 10.2 apg) gives Denver its centerpiece, but inconsistent support from Jamal Murray could prove problematic against LA's veteran-laden roster.
James Harden has silenced critics by leading the Clippers in scoring (22.8 ppg) and assists (8.7 apg) this season, while Kawhi Leonard returns to full strength after being limited to just 37 regular-season games.
The season series was split evenly with each team defending home court, setting up what could be a tight series hinging on Denver's elite offense (ranked 3rd in scoring) against LA's stingy defense (ranked 4th in points allowed).
The Nuggets' championship pedigree will be tested by the red-hot Clippers, who've won 18 of their last 21 games and seem to have found their rhythm at precisely the right time.
Key stats
- 1Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers finished with identical 50-32 records, tied for 4th/5th in the Western Conference
- 2The Clippers enter with perfect 5-0 recent form (WWWWW) while the Nuggets are 3-2 (WWWLL)
- 3Denver's offense was more productive, scoring 9,902 points compared to LA's 9,256
- 4Despite their identical records, Denver had a worse point differential (+319) than the Clippers (+382)
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers form
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers head to head
Denver Nuggets
20%
Los Angeles Clippers
80%
Apr 19, 2025
Denver Nuggets
0 : 0
Los Angeles Clippers
Jan 9, 2025
Denver Nuggets
126 : 103
Los Angeles Clippers
Dec 14, 2024
Denver Nuggets
120 : 98
Los Angeles Clippers
Dec 2, 2024
Los Angeles Clippers
126 : 122
Denver Nuggets
Oct 26, 2024
Denver Nuggets
104 : 109
Los Angeles Clippers
Jul 13, 2024
Los Angeles Clippers
88 : 78
Denver Nuggets
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