Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Odds, Prediction, & Pick
Clippers vs. Nuggets Odds
| Clippers Odds | +5 |
| Nuggets Odds | -5 |
| Over/Under | 228 |
| Date | Tue, Nov. 14 |
| Time | 10:00 p.m. |
| TV | TNT |
Tonight, the new-look Los Angeles Clippers will travel to Ball Arena to battle the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets. Entering play, the Clippers are still looking for their first victory since inserting James Harden into the lineup. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will be looking to stay perfect at home. Ahead of tip off, oddsmakers have priced Denver as 5-point favorites on the spread. The total is set at over/under 225 points.
Below, we break down the matchup for both teams and offer a free pick for the betting community!
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Los Angeles Clippers
Impact of James Harden
Prior to inserting James Harden into the starting lineup, the Clippers were 3-2 and had the third-best Net Rating in the entire NBA, outscoring their opponents by 11.6 points per 100 possessions. The team ranked fourth in offensive efficiency and fifth in defensive efficiency.
In four games since Harden arrived, the Clippers are winless, ranking 28th out of 30 teams in Net Rating. Los Angeles has the worst offensive efficiency in the NBA during that stretch, scoring only 106.9 points per 100 possessions. This group has also regressed to 24th in defensive efficiency since the blockbuster trade.
In the first year of the Miami Heat big-three, also known as the year of the Heatles, LeBron James and company went 7-7 during the month of November before figuring out their chemistry issues. It is not surprising to see the Clippers struggling as they attempt to integrate another high-usage player into their rotation.
Who will emerge as the Clippers alpha with new roster construction?
In four games since Harden joined the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Harden are each averaging 18.8 points per game or less. Leonard has led the team with 15.8 field goal attempts per game, with George and Westbrook not far behind.
George has struggled with his efficiency, shooting only 33.9% from the field and 23.3% from beyond the arc, but appears to have the highest ceiling of anyone on the team offensively at the moment due to his high volume of attempts from the perimeter. If George can knock down a few shots this evening, it would not be surprising to see him lead the Clippers in scoring on Tuesday.
Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray ruled OUT
Jamal Murray will be out once again on Tuesday for the Nuggets, as he continues to recover from a right hamstring strain. Nevertheless, Denver has played well without their star point guard, winning two of three games and outscoring their opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions.
Though it would be logical to expect Denver to struggle to score without Murray on the floor, that has not been reality. Across their last three games, the Nuggets rank sixth in the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 118.9 points per 100 possessions. Their tenacious defense still ranks 11th in efficiency as well in that stretch.
Who will step up with Murray sidelined?
According to RotoGrinders CourtIQ, Nikola Jokic receives the largest bump in usage of any primary scorer for the Nuggets when Murray is not on the floor. Per 36 minutes, Jokic is averaging 33.1 points, 15.9 rebounds, and 9.8 assists without Murray to begin the new campaign. Last year, Jokic averaged 28.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 11.1 assists without Murray on the court.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction
Nuggets -5 (-110)
Even without Jamal Murray in the lineup, there is little doubt that the Denver Nuggets are the far superior team in this matchup. Nikola Jokic and company have hardly missed a beat across their last three games, beating the New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors, with their only loss coming by three points on the road to the surging Houston Rockets.
The Los Angeles Clippers remain winless since James Harden arrived, which includes an outright loss as a nine-point home favorite against the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend. Traveling into the altitude for an In-Season Tournament game this evening makes it unlikely that tonight is the night the Clippers break back into the win column. It would not be surprising to see this contest get ugly.