-
Jeremy Perry
Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 5 Prediction: NBA Playoff Odds, Point Spread
For a second straight playoff series, the Denver Nuggets are down 3-1. After losing Game 4 to the Los Angeles Clippers, they now have to get off the mat once again and try to dig out of a hole. With the Clippers being so dominant in the last couple of games, do the Nuggets have a shot here? Let’s take a closer look.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The under is 4-0-1 in the Nuggets last five games overall and 3-0-1 in their last four games when coming in as the underdog. Denver has been 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven playoff games when coming in as the underdog and 5-2-1 in their last eight games overall.
For the Clippers, the under has also worked out well as it is 4-0-1 in their last five games overall. The under is also 4-0 in their past four games after a straight up win of 10 points or more. They have been 18-8 in their last 26 games overall.
Denver Nuggets
Denver had a poor performance in Game 4. The team was only able to shoot 39 percent from the field and were only able to score 85 points in the game. Nikola Jokic provided a good stat line of 26 points and 11 rebounds but there wasn’t another great performance anyone else on the roster. Jamal Murray only had 18 points and only two other players outside of Murray and Jokic hit double figures in scoring. They did play inspired defence but for the first time in a while, their offense let them down.
Shortly after the game, Michael Porter Jr. made headlines by stating “to beat that team we have to get more players involved” and had also made statements that would seem as if he questioned the play calls by the coaching staff. It is yet to be seen how that affected the team and their chemistry, but they will need to move on as a team if they want to win Game 5.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers didn’t shoot the ball that well (only 41 percent from the field) but it was still enough to overcome the Nuggets in Game 4 due to their incredible team defence. However, it wasn’t all negatives for their offense. Kawhi Leonard had a near triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Five other Clippers on the roster were able to score in double figures as well. Towards the end of the game, they got a little sloppy with the basketball and took some bad shots, but they were ahead by so much that it didn’t affect the outcome of the ball game.
This team now has a golden opportunity to put the Nuggets away and move onto the Western Conference finals for the first time in the team’s history. To win this game, the Clippers just need more of the same. Their defence has been the key as they’ve thrown all sorts of defenders on Murray to slow him down and that’s worked. The Nuggets have no margin for error as Jokic, Murray and someone else has to play really well for the Nuggets to win. The Clippers defence is good enough to make sure that doesn’t happen.
DEN
LAC