The Denver Nuggets look to capitalize on their hard-fought 112-110 overtime victory in Game 1 as they host the Los Angeles Clippers for the second matchup of their Western Conference first-round series on Monday night at Ball Arena.
Despite James Harden's 33-point outburst in the opener, the Clippers were undone by 20 turnovers—including seven from Kawhi Leonard—which Denver converted into a decisive 29-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
Both teams will make key adjustments heading into Game 2, with the Clippers aiming to protect the ball better while maintaining their 50% shooting clip, and the Nuggets looking to improve on their subpar 43% field goal percentage in Game 1.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers matchup, our predictive model gives the Clippers a 54% chance of defeating the Nuggets.
Pre-game probabilities
Denver Nuggets
Moneyline
Win %
46%
54%
Los Angeles Clippers
Denver Nuggets: 46% win probability
- Recent inconsistency (3-2 in last five with back-to-back losses)
- Defensive vulnerability (9583 points allowed, 709 more than Clippers)
- Offensive overreliance (9902 points scored, most among playoff teams)
Los Angeles Clippers: 54% win probability
- Perfect recent form (5-0 in last five games)
- Superior defensive efficiency (8874 points allowed vs. Nuggets' 9583)
- Strong road performance (finished with same record as Nuggets despite tougher away schedule)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts.
Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts.
| Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Clippers | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers preview
The Nuggets squeezed out a dramatic 112-110 overtime victory in Game 1 despite committing 15 turnovers, with Nikola Jokic's near triple-double (29 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists) proving just enough to hold off the Clippers.
James Harden turned back the clock with a masterful 33-point, 11-assist performance for LA, but the Clippers' 20 turnovers—including an uncharacteristic seven from Kawhi Leonard—ultimately doomed their chances of stealing home court advantage.
Both teams enter Monday's showdown at Ball Arena with identical 50-32 regular season records, though Denver's ability to force turnovers and capitalize in transition (29 points off turnovers in Game 1) could again prove decisive.
Russell Westbrook emerged as Denver's unlikely hero in the opener, burying a crucial three-pointer late in regulation and making the game-sealing defensive play in overtime.
With interim coach David Adelman now 4-0 at the helm, the Nuggets will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, while Tyronn Lue's Clippers must drastically reduce their giveaways to avoid heading home in a deep hole.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers form
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers head to head
Denver Nuggets
33%
Los Angeles Clippers
67%
Apr 19, 2025
Denver Nuggets
112 : 110
Los Angeles Clippers
Jan 9, 2025
Denver Nuggets
126 : 103
Los Angeles Clippers
Dec 14, 2024
Denver Nuggets
120 : 98
Los Angeles Clippers
Dec 2, 2024
Los Angeles Clippers
126 : 122
Denver Nuggets
Oct 26, 2024
Denver Nuggets
104 : 109
Los Angeles Clippers
Jul 13, 2024
Los Angeles Clippers
88 : 78
Denver Nuggets
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