Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Betting Pick & Prediction 12/13/24
At 9:00 ET, the 6th ranked Clippers (14-11) will travel to Denver to take on the 7th ranked Nuggets (12-10). The Nuggets are favored by 6.5 points and the over/under line is set at 228.5.
This Western Conference matchup will be played at Ball Arena and can be seen on ALT.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS DENVER NUGGETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Denver Nuggets -6.5
This game will be played at Ball Arena at 9:00 ET on Friday, December 13th.
WHY BET THE DENVER NUGGETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 120-93 in favor of the Nuggets.
- Our projections have Nikola Jokic finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists.
- From the field, we have the Nuggets finishing with a field goal percentage of 49.5% and knocking down 11 threes.
Can Los Angeles Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?
The Clippers fell to 14-11 on the season after a 117-106 home loss to the Rockets on Sunday. Los Angeles entered the game as +3 underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points of 223 exceeded the O/U line of 214 by 9 points.
A key moment in the game was a 12-0 run by the Rockets, which stretched the score from 53-50 to 62-53. Houston then outscored the Clippers 34-24 in the 2nd quarter, and despite an even 3rd quarter (31-31), the Clippers couldn’t close the gap in the 4th, where they were down 95-83 going in and only outscored the Rockets 23-22.
In their 117-106 loss to the Rockets, the Clippers struggled offensively, shooting 44.6% from the field and hitting just 11 threes at a 32.4% clip. Bones Hyland led the way with 22 points, knocking down 5 threes at 50% efficiency, while adding 4 assists.
Ivica Zubac contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 60% from the floor. Kevin Porter Jr. added 19 points and 6 assists, with 9 of his points coming in the 3rd quarter.
The Clippers struggled defensively in their 117-106 loss to the Rockets, giving up at least 30 points in each of the first three quarters. They allowed 30 points in the 1st, 34 in the 2nd, and 31 in the 3rd before tightening up in the 4th, where they gave up 22 points.
Overall, the Rockets shot 48% from the field, including 36% from three-point range with 15 made threes. The Clippers also sent the Rockets to the free-throw line 26 times, where they converted 22 attempts. Defensively, the Clippers recorded 11 steals and 3 blocks.
Do the Nuggets Have a Shot at a Home Win?
Denver moved to 12-10 on the season with a 141-111 win over the Hawks on Sunday. The Nuggets, who were +1.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread with a 30-point victory. The total points for the game ended at 252.5, surpassing the pre-game O/U line of 240.5.
Denver took control early, leading 38-23 after the 1st quarter and 71-48 at halftime. The Hawks made a push with a 10-0 run, cutting the score from 95-67 to 95-77, but the Nuggets responded by outscoring Atlanta 35-27 in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
The Nuggets shot 62.9% from the field in their 141-111 win over the Hawks, with Nikola Jokic leading the way, scoring 48 points and adding 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Jokic hit 3 threes at a 50% clip, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 26 points, shooting 70.6% from the field.
Christian Braun added 17 points, hitting 2 threes without a miss. The Nuggets connected on 12 threes as a team, shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc.
Defensively, the Nuggets were solid, holding the Hawks to 111 points on 40% shooting. Denver gave up 23 points in the 1st quarter and 25 in the 2nd, but Atlanta scored 36 in the 3rd. The Nuggets tightened up in the 4th, allowing 27 points.
Denver’s perimeter defense was strong, limiting the Hawks to 9 made threes on 22% shooting. The Nuggets sent Atlanta to the line 27 times, where they made 20 free throws. Denver finished with 9 steals and 5 blocks.