LA Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction NBA Picks 10/26/24

The Los Angeles Clippers travel to the Ball Arena to battle the Denver Nuggets on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a LA Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction. This article will include a LA Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction Pick.

The Los Angeles Clippers will be hoping to bounce back in this one after coming up painfully short to the Suns in a 116-113 overtime loss on Wednesday. James Harden led the team with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, Ivica Zubac added 21 points with nine rebounds and three assists while Norman Powell chipped in with 17 points and four assists. As a team, the Clippers shot 45 percent from the field and eight of 29 from the 3-point line as they worked hard to claw their way back from an early 14-point deficit, only to get stung by the Suns’ Kevin Durant at the end of regulation and in the overtime period. The Clippers just didn’t get enough scoring support from their bench, especially from Kevin Porter Jr who finished with just two points on one of eight shooting. 

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets are in similar shape as they too are hoping for a better performance after getting routed by the young Thunder in a 102-87 loss on Thursday. Christian Braun led the team in scoring with 16 points, two steals, and two blocks, Nikola Jokic tallied a triple-double of 16 points with 12 rebounds and 13 assists, Michael Porter Jr added 15 points while Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray scored 12 points apiece. As a team, the Nuggets shot just 35 percent from the field and seven of 38 from the 3-point line as they came out flat and fell behind early before they went ice-cold and managed just 36 points in the second half to allow the Thunder to pull away late. Michael Porter Jr. had a rough game as he shot just five of 17 from the field, Russell Westbrook scored just six points on two of 10 shooting while PJ Watson scored just two points on one of seven shooting.

 

Why the Denver Nuggets will win

• The Nuggets have won each of their last 15 games at Ball Arena against teams that held a losing record.
• The Clippers have lost 12 of their last 13 games at Ball Arena following a loss.
• The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four-day games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.
• The Nuggets have covered the spread in six of their last seven home games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.

The Clippers are still shorthanded with Kawhi Leonard and Mo Bamba still out, while the Nuggets are coming into this one at full strength. The Clippers will be kicking themselves after dropping their season opener to the Suns in their season opener, but there were plenty of positives to take from the loss. On the other hand, the Nuggets got embarrassed in their first game of the season and they don’t have the excuse of injuries. I think the Nuggets bounce back with a win here, but I think the Clippers are getting just enough points to get the cover in a close one.