Even after trading Blake Griffin, the Los Angeles Clippers are still hanging around in the Western Conference playoff hunt. They only sit one game behind the Denver Nuggets for the eighth and final spot and the teams will face off this week in a critical showdown.
Denver gets this game at home where it is really good, so it will definitely be favored in this matchup. Los Angeles has re-tooled this season and has done a nice job remaining competitive. The Clippers and Nuggets are both in the middle of a logjam of teams fighting to make the playoffs and get a favorable seeding.
The season is hitting its stretch run and this game could have huge ramifications.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Pepsi Center at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Clippers are 31-27 straight up and 33-25 against the spread. Los Angeles has done a nice job against the spread on the road this season, covering in 19 of 30 attempts. The Clippers have covered in half of their 28 games on the road this season.
The Nuggets are 33-27 straight up and 28-28-3 against the spread. Denver is 17-13-1 against the spread at home on the year. The Nuggets are 18-18-1 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
Key Stat
24. That’s the number of wins the Nuggets have at home this season and only eight losses. They had a five-game home winning streak snapped last time out, but they only fell by five points to the Houston Rockets, who have the best record in the NBA.
The Nuggets play at a fast pace in the high elevation of Denver, which can be a tough combination on their opponents. Only the Minnesota Timberwolves have more wins at home this season than the Nuggets.
The Clippers have gone 15-15 on the road this season so even though the teams have similar records, look for the Nuggets to be a comfortable favorite.
Player To Watch
DeAndre Jordan —There could be a lot of points in this game and a fast tempo. The best defensive player on the court will be the Clippers’ big man, and if Jordan can patrol the lane effectively it will give his team a much better chance at pulling the upset.
Jordan is averaging 11.8 points, 15.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. The Nuggets boast a talented big man in Nikola Jokic so Jordan will have to be on his “A” game in order to keep him in check.
Jokic is averaging 17.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, breaking out as a true star this season. This matchup will be one of the biggest keys in the contest.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Nuggets are dynamite at home, and don’t expect that trend to change in this one. They are a slightly more talented team than the Clippers already and should be able to score enough points to hang on for the win. Denver is only in eighth place in the conference but can move up rapidly by putting a winning streak together.
This will be a good start and keep the Clippers off their heels. Take Denver to not only win this game but cover the spread as well. The “over” is something to consider as this one should have a fast pace from start to finish.
NBA Odds: Nuggets 121, Clippers 113
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