Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Prediction: Slumping and hurt Clippers take on relentless Nuggets

The NBA Regular Season is on and this has been a fascinating season where we have seen records being shattered at an electric rate. The Playoffs are still months away but before that, we have to unpack a lot of action which will determine the course. In this NBA Regular Season game, the Denver Nuggets are going to take on the Los Angeles Clippers in an inter-Conference match-up.

The Nuggets enter the game after losing to the Timberwolves 111:124 despite a 24 points performance by Nikola Jokic. This loss was the second one in the fourth game but if we observe the extended window, Denver has won an incredible ten out of their thirteen games, and they have compiled 24 wins and 13 losses, which is a significant improvement from last season and has made the Nuggets one of the early contenders for the championship. However, there is a long way to go till that window, and currently, the Nuggets have a bunch of issues to fix.

One of the biggest issues is their defense which has been fifth-worst in terms of limiting the opposition’s field goal percentage, allowing 48.6% thus far, which is still an improvement before Michael Porter Jr. was back. However, the Nuggets also capitalize upon their possessions, having the best three-point percentage(39.8%) whereas they are number two in field goal percentage(50.8%) while being number one in assists(28.1). This is all possible with Jokic as the enforcer and the team has improved ever since the team got back Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray while signing Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the offseason.

The Clippers come into this game after suffering a 100:110 loss against the Heat despite a 25 points performance by Paul George. The Clippers have now lost three in a row and have an underperforming 21 wins and 18 losses record. This record has occurred despite the team getting back Kawhi Leonard to complete the duo with Paul George. George has been bringing amazing numbers again while Kawhi has doubled his production from the early season, still being some way from being his former self. The trouble is that now George is grappling with injuries.

The recurring problem for the Clippers has been their offense which is like a mirror image from last season. They are third-worst in regards to points per game(109.5), which is a big result of being bottom-seven in turnovers(15.5) while being the tenth-worst offensive rebounding team(9.9). However, their defense is elite as they are top-three in the opposition’s field goal percentage(34%) while third-least points per game(109.4). But changes need to come on the offensive end regardless of the top-class defense because, in high-scorers, the Clippers have been overwhelmed.

• Nuggets: OUT: Jeff Green, Peyton Watson, Collin Gillepsie;
• Clippers: OUT: Nicolas Batum. QUESTIONABLE: Paul George.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Nikola Jokic(30-36 Points), Kawhi Leonard(20-24 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Nikola Jokic(12-16 Rebounds), Ivica Zubac(10-14 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Nikola Jokic(9-11 Assists), Kawhi Leonard(6-8 Assists).

The Clippers are going to have their hands full against Jokic. Zubac will especially need to play his A-game and he has done a decent job lately. However, the Nuggets are deep this season and look deeper than the Clippers that have holes to fill at the Point Guard position and a bench that is one of the most up-and-down ones. Playing at home, the Nuggets will be confident but the defensive job by the Clippers can tone down their scoring a bit. However, I’d still back the Nuggets to win and predict a scoreline of 115:109 in their favor.