Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Prediction 5/1/25 NBA Picks

LA Clippers Betting Preview 

The LA Clippers need a win to force a game 7 on Saturday. The Clippers have won 17 of their last 22 games since March 12. The Clippers haven’t lost three straight games since February 28 - March 4.

The LA Clippers are averaging 109.2 points on 48.6 percent shooting and allowing 105.8 points on 46.6 percent shooting. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 25.2 points and 7.6 rebounds, while Ivica Zubac is averaging 20.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. James Harden is the third double-digit scorer, and Norman Powell is grabbing 2.4 rebounds. The LA Clippers are shooting 38.8 percent from beyond the arc and 70 percent from the free-throw line. The LA Clippers are allowing 38.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41 rebounds per game.

Why the Los Angeles Clippers will win

• The Clippers have won each of their last six night games at Intuit Dome.
• The Nuggets have lost 20 of their last 23 Western Conference First Round road games against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Clippers have covered the spread in each of their last four games following a road loss.
• The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six road games after winning as underdogs.

Why the Denver Nuggets will win

• The Nuggets have won each of their last five playoff games as underdogs against Pacific Division opponents following a win.
• The Clippers have lost each of their last six games against the Nuggets after losing as favorites.
• The underdogs have covered the spread in eight of the Nuggets' last nine Western Conference First Round games.
• The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven Western Conference First Round home games against Northwest Division opponents.

Los Angeles Clippers Player Facts

• James Harden ranks 2nd in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for assists per game (8.7) this season.
• Nicolas Batum ranks 2nd in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for 3P% (43.3%) this season.

Denver Nuggets Player Facts

• Jamal Murray ranks 11th amongst qualified players for FT% (88.6%) this season.
• Michael Porter Jr. ranks 10th amongst qualified Forwards for three-pointers made Per Game (2.5) this season.

Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Injury Report 

The Nuggets will be without DaRon Holmes II.

The Clippers don’t have any players listed on their injury report.

Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Prediction

I had the Clippers before this series began and I still believe they’re the better team and can win it. The Clippers have the depth advantage as the Nuggets lack a bench outside of Westbrook. Oddmakers agreed as the Clippers were decent sized favorites to win the series entering game 5 despite not having home court. Even down 2-3 in the series, the Nuggets aren’t that big of a favorite to advance. With all of that said this line is disrespectful toward the Nuggets. The Clippers have had trouble closing games in this series and they looked awful in a blowout game 5 loss.

Also, Harden is being less and less productive and he’s coming off an embarrassing showing. We know Harden’s subpar efforts in the playoffs over his career and if he’s back to that, the Clippers are in trouble. Again, I still like the Clippers as a team and kind of expect this series to go the distance, but I like the value of the points with the Nuggets in game 6.