The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers head into a pivotal Game 5 at Ball Arena with their first-round series deadlocked at 2-2 following the Nuggets' dramatic buzzer-beating victory in Game 4.
Nikola Jokic's dominant 36-point, 21-rebound performance in the last outing has shifted momentum back to Denver as they reclaimed home-court advantage after the Clippers' blowout win in Game 3.
With both teams sporting identical 50-32 regular season records, this critical matchup could turn on James Harden's ability to bounce back from a quiet Game 4 and whether Russell Westbrook can overcome his questionable status with a foot injury.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers prediction: who will win?
For today's Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers matchup, our predictive model gives the Nuggets a 55% chance of defeating the Clippers.
Denver Nuggets: 55% win probability
- Offensive firepower (Ranked 2nd in the Western Conference with 9902 points scored)
- Home court advantage (50-32 overall record suggests strong home performance)
- Momentum factor (Recent form of WWWLL shows stronger results than Clippers' recent performances)
Los Angeles Clippers: 45% win probability
- Scoring efficiency issues (Scored 646 fewer points than the Nuggets this season)
- Defensive vulnerability (Allowed 8874 points, which is strong but not elite compared to top Western teams)
- Inconsistent road performance (50-32 overall record but likely weaker away from home as is typical in the NBA)
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 Tuesday, April 29.
| Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Clippers | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | +110 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) | -122 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) |
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Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers preview
The Denver Nuggets stole back homecourt advantage with Aaron Gordon's dramatic buzzer-beating putback dunk in Game 4, setting up a pivotal Game 5 showdown with the series deadlocked at 2-2.
Nikola Jokic has been a one-man wrecking crew for Denver, coming off a monstrous 36-point, 21-rebound performance that kept the defending champions afloat despite their inconsistent offense throughout the series.
The Clippers' balanced attack has been led by Kawhi Leonard's steady production, but they'll need more from James Harden, who managed just 15 points and attempted only two 3-pointers in their Game 4 collapse.
After blowing a 20-point lead only to escape with the win, the Nuggets return to the friendly confines of Ball Arena where they've historically dominated the Clippers, though Denver's 6-5 record in April suggests vulnerability.
With Russell Westbrook's status still questionable with a foot injury, the Clippers' superior depth could prove decisive in breaking the series deadlock.
Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance but neither has maintained their regular-season offensive efficiency, setting the stage for what could be the series' defining moment in Denver on Tuesday night.
Key stats
- 1Denver Nuggets are 4th in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record, identical to the 5th-place Clippers
- 2Clippers enter with perfect 5-0 recent form (WWWWW) while Nuggets are slumping at 3-2 (WWWLL)
- 3Nuggets scored more points this season (9902 vs 9256) but also allowed more (9583 vs 8874)
- 4Clippers have the 3rd best defensive record in the West, allowing 8874 points compared to Denver's 9583
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers form
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers head to head
Denver Nuggets
50%
Los Angeles Clippers
50%
Apr 26, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers
99 : 101
Denver Nuggets
Apr 25, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers
117 : 83
Denver Nuggets
Apr 22, 2025
Denver Nuggets
102 : 105
Los Angeles Clippers
Apr 19, 2025
Denver Nuggets
112 : 110
Los Angeles Clippers
Jan 9, 2025
Denver Nuggets
126 : 103
Los Angeles Clippers
Dec 14, 2024
Denver Nuggets
120 : 98
Los Angeles Clippers
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