Nuggets vs. Clippers: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Nuggets vs. Clippers Odds
| Nuggets Odds | +5 |
| Clippers Odds | -5 |
| Over/Under | 222 |
| Date | Fri, Jan. 13 |
| Time | 10:00 p.m. |
| TV | ESPN |
ESPN’s Friday NBA double-header will conclude with a battle between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers at 10:00 p.m. EST. Entering the weekend, Denver is tied for the best record in the Western Conference, with Los Angeles trailing in the standings by seven games. Nevertheless, oddsmakers are expecting a closely-contested affair between these two teams this evening, pricing the Clippers as 5-point home favorites on the spread.
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic OUT
The Nuggets are 27-11 with Nikola Jokic on the floor this season, but only 1-2 in games that he has missed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Denver ranks in the 98th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 66th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the floor, but only the 10th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 7th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
Who will step up for Denver?
Per CourtIQ, Jamal Murray sees the largest increase in usage (+7.2%) when Jokic is off of the floor this year. In a sample size of 236 minutes, Murray is averaging 24.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per 36 minutes without his co-star.
Bones Hyland is also a candidate for an expanded role tonight. In three games without Jokic in uniform, Hyland has scored 21 points, 17 points, and 29 points, respectively – having attempted at least 15 field goal attempts in each of those contests.
Los Angeles Clippers
Paul George OUT
Per Cleaning the Glass, Los Angeles ranks in the 60th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 78th percentile in defensive efficiency this season when Paul George is on the floor, compared to the 5th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 62nd percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
Who will step up for Los Angeles?
Per CourtIQ, Norman Powell sees the largest increase in usage (+4.1%) when George is not on the floor. In his last five games without George, Powell is averaging 22.6 points per contest, scoring a season-high 32 points on November 29 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kawhi Leonard is averaging 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per 36 minutes with George off of the floor. In his last three games with George in street clothes, Leonard has scored 33 points, 29 points, and 31 points, respectively. Expect him to be aggressive on the offensive end of the floor once again this evening.
Nuggets vs. Clippers – Picks & Predictions
Both teams in this matchup are missing heavy usage players, with Nikola Jokic out for the Denver Nuggets and Paul George out for the Los Angeles Clippers. Missing their leading scorer, both teams rank in the 10th percentile or worse in offensive efficiency this season.
Per StatMuse, the Clippers are averaging just north of 95 possessions per game when George is not on the floor, which is an extreme reduction in pace compared to when he is on the court. Denver also slows down the pace slightly without Jokic.
Bettors should expect a low-scoring affair between these two teams, with offense being hard to come by for both units. Take the under in this spot.
PICK: Under 222 (-110, DraftKings)