Two of the top teams in the Western Conference will look to move within striking distance of the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night when the Los Angeles Clippers host the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers will likely be favored per the NBA betting odds, but they are currently a game behind the Nuggets. A No. 1 seed has gone on to win the NBA Championship in 28 of the last 41 seasons, underscoring the importance of earning home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
This game will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET on February 28, 2020, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Check Back Later
Head-To-Head Results to Date
This will be the second of three meetings between the Clippers and Nuggets this year, and it will be the only time these teams meet in the Staples Center. Denver knocked off LA 114-104 in the first contest between these two teams, thanks to a huge second quarter. The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 37-22 in that quarter and held on for the win.
The Clippers didn’t have Paul George for that game, but they got great performances out of Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell. Those three players combined to go 29-55 from the field and finished with 81 points. Unfortunately, the rest of the Clippers combined to go 9-29 from the floor.
Meanwhile, it was a team effort for Denver. Seven different players scored at least 10 points, and the team shot 48.1 percent from the floor and 44 percent from three.
Injury Report
There are no injuries to report for the Clippers, but the Nuggets are still without Bol Bol. The presumed top five pick coming into last year’s NBA Draft continues to be hampered by foot injuries, and he has yet to take the floor this season after lighting up the G League in limited action.
Matchup to Watch
Denver is one of the top defensive teams in the league. The Nuggets continue to improve in this area annually, and they have the ninth best team defensive rating in the NBA. Nikola Jokic has had some issues defending in the paint, but the guards play fantastic perimeter defense. Denver is third in the league in three-point defense, holding opponents to 34.2 percent shooting.
The Clippers aren’t as efficient on offense as you’d expect for a team with Leonard and George. They rank in the middle of the league in effective field goal percentage, and the Clip Show has trouble scoring in the paint. LA is hitting 51.8 percent of its two-point field goals, ranking in the bottom half of the NBA in that category.
Game Preview
Jokic is one of the best big men in the league with the ball in his hands. Denver runs its offense through the seven-footer, and rightfully so given his skills. He has better vision than any center in the league, and Jokic currently leads the Nuggets in points (20.9 PPG), rebounds (10.1 RPG), and assists (6.9 APG).
LA has four different shooters on the roster, making them dangerous come playoff time. Leonard and George are two of the best players in the NBA, and they can create their own shots at will, while Lou Williams has won the Sixth Man of the Year Award three times in the last four years. Landry Shamet has hit 40.8 percent of his threes too, making it tough to pick one or two players to focus on for Denver.
Prediction
It’s tough to beat the Clippers in Los Angeles. They are 23-6 at home this year, and they demolished Memphis here on Monday night. That makes them the pick on Friday night.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
