Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Odds, Analysis, NBA Betting Pick
The Denver Nuggets (33-27) will try to continue their push toward the playoffs on Tuesday when they host the Los Angeles Clippers (31-27) as small home favorites. The Nuggets sit one game ahead of the Clippers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference but have played two more games.
Point spread: The Nuggets opened as four-point favorites; the total is at 232.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)
NBA betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 116.4-116.0, Clippers (NBA picks on every game)
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Why the Clippers can cover the spread
Los Angeles has played well since dealing Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons, winning six of nine games without their previous second-leading scorer. Former Piston Tobias Harris has stepped in nicely for Griffin and averaged 19.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in eight games since joining the team while leading scorer Lou Williams (23.3 points per game) continues to perform better than he had during any of his past 12 years in the league.
The Clippers have also covered the spread in four of the last six meetings with Denver despite losing three of them, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
Why the Nuggets can cover the spread
The Nuggets have won three of the past four games between the teams, the exception coming in the last one back on January 17 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. In that matchup, Denver lost 109-104 as a 4.5-point road underdog, barely missing a cover at online betting sites.
The previous two meetings before that saw the Nuggets beat the Clippers by an average of 20 points, with both taking place at home. Denver has been one of the best home teams in the league, going 24-8 straight up and 17-14-1 against the spread.
Smart betting pick
This is a big game for each team considering they are battling for one of the last playoff spots in the West. Both have played well lately with seven wins in 10 games apiece, but the Nuggets have a significant edge at home here. They have gone 7-2 SU and ATS in the last nine head-to-head matchups at the Pepsi Center, with only four losses to Los Angeles in the previous 20 games there.
Look for Denver to play like the past two meetings at home and blow out the Clippers by double digits to cover the spread easily again.
NBA betting trends
Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS in its last six games.
Los Angeles is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games on the road.
The total has gone over in each of Denver's last five games.
All NBA odds and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.
