Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

What: Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets

Where: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO

When: Sunday, February 24th at 5:00 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): NBA TV, Altitude, Fox Sports Prime Ticket | KKSE-FM 92.5/KKSE 950, AM 570 LA Sports

Los Angeles Clippers (Away)

Head Coach: Doc Rivers {All-Time 878-651 | ORL, BOS, LAC}

The Los Angeles Clippers are teetering on the edge of the top eight in the Western Conference. Just 1.5 games ahead of the ninth place team, the Clippers’ new retooled roster needs to adjust if they want to stay in the playoff race.

The Los Angeles Clippers were alternating wins and losses before the All-Star Break. While they achieved wins against the Pistons, Hornets, and Celtics, they were outclassed by the Raptors, Pacers, and Timberwolves.

The Clippers seem to have chosen to rebuild at this point in the season, after trading away talented assets in Avery Bradley and Tobias Harris. The Denver Nuggets are one of the top teams in the West and if the Clippers hope to have a chance, their newly retooled roster will have to mesh quickly.

Denver Nuggets (Home)

Head Coach: Mike Malone {All-Time 197-212 | SAC, DEN}

The Denver Nuggets are looking to find their way back into pole position in the Western Conference. With a record of 39-18, the Nuggets are 2.5 games back from the Golden State Warriors who currently occupy first place.

The Nuggets were on a decent run before the NBA All-Star Break, accumulating a record of 7-3 in their last 10. While they lost three in a row on the road, the Nuggets are back on track.

The Nuggets take on a newly youthful Los Angeles Clippers team that clearly have their sights set on the future. Regardless the Clippers are still a team that likes to attack the rim and will surely challenge the Nuggets’ lack of shot blocking.

What’s At Stake?

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets have had a fairly even history. The Denver Nuggets lead the all-time series 71-65.

A win for the Los Angeles Clippers would help stave off the Sacramento Kings who are 1.5 games behind them for eighth in the West.

A win for the Denver Nuggets will bring them within two games of the Golden State Warriors in first place.

Questions to answer

Where does the Clipper future lie?

Who will be available for the Nuggets?

We are going to compare the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets in an attempt to see who has the advantage in this matchup.

The Clippers Are In Limbo

Before the NBA Trade Deadline the Los Angeles Clippers shipped out Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley. One an All-Star level talent and the other and All-NBA Defender, the Clippers seem more interested in the future than the present.

It is no secret that the Los Angeles Clippers covet the future services of Kawhi Leonard. Like an awkward teenage romance, Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers staff have stalked Leonard across the country and the Canadian border to observe and make their presence known, without making professional contact.

The problem with the Clippers lies in the fact that they have all but sacrificed this season for a shot at a future with Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers were a playoff bound team, they are now sacrificing that opportunity for a slight chance at a star in the future. Time will tell how the ownership responds, but the players are sure to relish the opportunity for the time being.

The Nuggets Finally Have a Healthy Squad

The Nuggets have been struggling with injuries throughout the season. Those struggles are part of the reason why their performance in the regular season to this point has been so impressive. Jokic is obviously the star but with pieces returning to the lineup we may soon see the full potential of the Nuggets.

Head Coach Michael Malone announcer that Gary Harris and Paul Millsap would be available going into this match. Malone did make a note that the Nuggets brass considered shutting down Harris for the season, so it should be considered that Harris will likely play limited minutes.

Isiaiah Thomas is back in the lineup, but now they are missing Trey Lyles in the front court. If Thomas can replicate some of the perimeter scoring that Harris has this season, Harris’ limitations may go unnoticed. If all goes well for the Nuggets in the health department, don’t be surprised to see them back on top of the West once again.

Los Angeles Clippers Roster Notes

F Wilson Chandler – 21 Feb 2019 – Out (Quad) – Chandler will not play in Friday’s game (Feb. 22) or Sunday’s game (Feb. 24), according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

F Luc Mbah a Moute – 31 Jan 2019 – Out (Knee) – Mbah a Moute has not played since mid-October and there is no timetable for his return.

Denver Nuggets Roster Notes

F Trey Lyles – 21 Feb 2019 – Out (Left Hamstring Strain) – The Denver Nuggets listed Lyles as OUT for Friday’s (Feb 22) game against the Mavericks.

F Michael Porter – 13 Feb 2019 – Out (Back) – Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has not ruled out a return this year for Porter Jr. according to Harrison Wind of BSN Denver.

Head-to-Head: Lou Williams (LAC) vs Jamal Murray (DEN)

Lou Williams

Shooting Guard | 6-1, 175lb (185cm, 79kg) | South Gwinnett (HS) | Exp. 13 Years

19.9 PPG | 5.3 APG | 2.9 RPG | 0.6 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 2.4 TOV | .429 FG% | .372 3P%

Jamal Murray

Point Guard | 6-4, 207lb (193cm, 93kg) | Kentucky | Exp. 2 Years

18.3 PPG | 5.0 APG | 4.2 RPG | 0.8 SPG | 0.4 BPG | 2.4 TOV | .430 FG% | .368 3P%

Two high-scoring guards take each other on in this matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. Another season and another Sixth Man of the Year worthy season for Lou Williams. On the other end of the court, Jamal Murray has come into his own as of late and has found some consistency from three.

With the departure of Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley, the majority of the Clippers success leans on the ability of Lou Williams and the cast he has available. While the outlook for the team isn’t bright in the near future, Lou Williams is no longer burdened with sharing the ball with another isolation scorer and thus may produce even more during this half of the season.

No longer the full-time playmaker on the Nuggets, Murray has found his role as a lethal perimeter scorer. While he struggled in his last two games before the All-Star Break, shooting 6-20, an extended break and an all-star snub are sure to motivate the young Canadian to perform greater than before.

Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets Predictions and Odds

The odds will be updated as they are made available.