Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 1 Prediction
Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals between the Nuggets and Clippers starts tonight on TNT at 9:00 p.m. ET. Will Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers roll in the series opener or are the Nuggets receiving too many points?
Game Snapshot
Who: Nuggets (46-27) vs. Clippers (49-23)
What: NBA Western Conference Playoffs Semifinals Game 1
Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Lake Buena Vista, FL
When: 9:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, September 3, 2020
Betting Odds: Clippers -8.5; O/U 223 (Check out our NBA Public Betting Chart Page as well)
Denver Nuggets DFS Spin
Nikola Jokic hit 12-of-23 shots, two 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws for 30 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes as the Nuggets held off the Jazz for an 80-78 win in Game 7 on Tuesday night. The Nuggets overcame a 3-1 deficit to advance to the West Semi Finals with the win. Jokic and Rudy Gobert had an incredible battle in this one, while guards Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray weren’t the focal point in a defensive game tonight. Jokic averaged 26 points, eight boards and 3.1 3-pointers in the seven-game series and the Nuggets will get ready for the rested Clippers for a Game 1 showdown on Thursday night. Jokic played most of the fourth quarter with five fouls and somehow survived, helping his team reach the Western Semis.
Los Angeles Clippers DFS Spin
Paul George had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 40 minutes during L.A.’s Game 6 victory on Sunday. George opened up recently about his mental-health struggles in the Orlando bubble, for which he was rightfully applauded. After four sub-par games in the playoffs, it seems like he’s found his groove, averaging 25.0 points, 6.0 boards and 4.5 dimes in Games 5-6 to help the Clippers close out their first-round series. When George is humming along in high gear alongside Kawhi Leonard, the Clips are hard to stop.
Nuggets vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs Prediction
There’s no question that the Clippers are the more talented team in this series but Game 1 matchups can be tricky and the 8.5 is too many to hand a Denver team that plays good defense. The Mavs were able to push the Clippers to six games in their matchup and while the Nuggets might eventually fall in fewer games in their series with L.A., I see Denver using the momentum of the Utah series to keep things close tonight. Again, their defense will be the diference, at least in the first game. After that, their lack of offense will likely be their downfall.
The Nuggets are 3-0-1 against the spread in their last four games overall and have covered in five of their last seven opportunities as an underdog.
NBA PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE GAME 1 PREDICTION: DENVER NUGGETS +8.5
