The Denver Nuggets look to close out their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers who face elimination down 3-2 heading into Thursday's pivotal Game 6 at Crypto.com Arena.
Jamal Murray's explosive 43-point performance in Game 5 has put Denver on the verge of advancing, while the Clippers must find answers defensively after allowing 131 points despite holding Nikola Jokic to just 13 points.
With six and a half points favoring the home team, oddsmakers expect Los Angeles to force a Game 7, but Denver's momentum and balanced attack make this elimination game far from predictable.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets matchup, our predictive model gives the Nuggets a 53.33% chance of defeating the Clippers.
Denver Nuggets: 53.33% win probability
- Superior offensive production (9902 points scored this season, ranking them among the highest-scoring teams in the Western Conference)
- Home court success (Their 50-32 record matches the Clippers, but they've shown more consistency across different venues)
- More balanced attack (Their point differential of +319 indicates they're effective on both ends of the floor)
Los Angeles Clippers: 46.67% win probability
- Inconsistent scoring (9256 points scored is notably lower than Denver's offensive output)
- Defense vulnerability against high-scoring teams (Their recent form of WWWWW is impressive but may not hold against Denver's offensive firepower)
- Playoff experience gap (Denver's recent playoff success gives them an edge in high-pressure situations despite identical 50-32 records)
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.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets odds
Here are the latest odds as the Los Angeles Clippers host the Denver Nuggets in NBA action on Thursday, May 01.
| Los Angeles Clippers | Denver Nuggets | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -280 (via bet365 US) | +235 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) |
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Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets preview
The Denver Nuggets have pushed the Los Angeles Clippers to the brink of elimination, holding a pivotal 3-2 series lead heading into Thursday night's Game 6 showdown at Crypto.com Arena.
Jamal Murray exploded for a playoff career-high 43 points in Game 5, including eight three-pointers, while Russell Westbrook provided an unexpected spark off the bench with 21 points as Denver rolled to a 131-115 victory.
Despite the Clippers' defensive efforts successfully limiting Nikola Jokić to just 13 points, Murray's brilliance overwhelmed Los Angeles, leaving Tyronn Lue's squad facing a win-or-go-home scenario.
The Clippers, who haven't lost three straight games since early March, will need more from an inconsistent James Harden while hoping center Ivica Zubac can build on his career playoff-high 27-point performance from Game 5.
Both teams have shown vulnerabilities on the road in this series, but the Nuggets appear to have found their championship form at the perfect moment, with Murray looking reminiscent of his 2020 playoff self.
Los Angeles opens as 7-point favorites despite being on the brink of elimination, perhaps reflecting oddsmakers' confidence in the Clippers' 17-5 record since mid-March and their strong home court advantage at their shiny new arena.
Key stats
- 1Both teams finished with identical 50-32 records last season, with Denver holding the 4th seed and Clippers the 5th seed
- 2The Clippers closed the regular season stronger with perfect 5-0 recent form (WWWWW) compared to Denver's 3-2 record (WWWLL)
- 3Denver scored more points last season (9902) than the Clippers (9256), averaging about 8 more points per game
- 4Denver had a worse defensive record, allowing 9583 points compared to LA's 8874 – giving the Clippers a better overall point differential
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets form
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets head to head
Los Angeles Clippers
33%
Denver Nuggets
67%
Apr 30, 2025
Denver Nuggets
131 : 115
Los Angeles Clippers
Apr 26, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers
99 : 101
Denver Nuggets
Apr 25, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers
117 : 83
Denver Nuggets
Apr 22, 2025
Denver Nuggets
102 : 105
Los Angeles Clippers
Apr 19, 2025
Denver Nuggets
112 : 110
Los Angeles Clippers
Jan 9, 2025
Denver Nuggets
126 : 103
Los Angeles Clippers
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