The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers head to Intuit Dome for a pivotal Game 3 showdown with their first-round series knotted at one game apiece following a dramatic split in Denver.
Kawhi Leonard's masterful 39-point performance in Game 2 has shifted momentum toward the Clippers, who now look to leverage their impressive 30-11 home record while the Nuggets must overcome their turnover issues after coughing up the ball 20 times in their recent loss.
With Michael Porter Jr. questionable with a shoulder injury and both teams still searching for consistent offensive rhythm, Thursday's contest could determine which squad seizes control of this tightly contested Western Conference battle.
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 Clippers a 50.75% chance of defeating the Nuggets.
Pre-game probabilities
Los Angeles Clippers
Moneyline
Win %
50.75%
49.25%
Denver Nuggets
Los Angeles Clippers: 50.75% win probability
- Perfect recent form with 5 straight wins (WWWWW in last 5 games)
- Elite defensive efficiency (8874 points allowed, 2nd best in Western Conference)
- Identical win total (50-32) as Denver but with stronger momentum heading into this matchup
Denver Nuggets: 49.25% win probability
- Recent inconsistency with back-to-back losses (WWWLL in last 5 games)
- Defensive vulnerability (9583 points allowed, 6th worst in Western Conference)
- Road team disadvantage despite identical season record (50-32) to the Clippers
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.
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Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets preview
The Clippers and Nuggets head to Intuit Dome all square at 1-1 in their first-round playoff series, with both games decided by razor-thin margins.
Kawhi Leonard's masterful 39-point performance on 15-of-19 shooting in Game 2 helped the Clippers even the series after Denver stole the opener in overtime.
The turnover battle has proven decisive through two games, with the winning team forcing 20-plus turnovers in each contest while protecting the ball themselves.
Despite Denver dominating the glass (plus-19 rebounding advantage across both games), Los Angeles has neutralized the Nuggets' typically efficient offense, holding the league's second-best shooting team well below their season average.
With Michael Porter Jr. questionable with a shoulder injury, the Clippers' home-court advantage (30-11 at Intuit Dome this season) could prove significant as they look to seize control of this tightly-contested series.
All eyes will be on the superstar matchup between Jokić's all-around brilliance (triple-double in Game 2) and the Clippers' dynamic duo of Leonard and Harden, who have yet to hit their stride simultaneously in this series.
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