Nuggets vs. Clippers Picks and Prediction – 5/1/2025

Denver Nuggets (3-2 Series Lead) vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
TV: TNT / truTV / Max

Previous Game:

  • Denver: Dominated Game 5 with a 131-115 win behind Jamal Murray’s 43 points and 55.8% team shooting.

  • Clippers: Struggled defensively and lacked offensive rhythm. Harden had only 11 points on 3-for-9 shooting.

Head-to-Head (Series):

Denver leads the series 3-2. They’ve covered in 4 of their last 6 road games, while the Clippers have failed to cover in 6 of their last 8 games played in May.

Denver Nuggets Breakdown:

The Nuggets are shooting well as a team and are led by Nikola Jokic, who’s averaging a triple-double through the series. Their recent 3-point efficiency (51.5% in Game 5) shows how lethal they can be when Murray and Porter Jr. are clicking. Denver has also been steady defensively, holding the Clippers under 116 points in 4 of the 5 games.

Key Players:

  • Nikola Jokic: 28.5 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 10.8 APG

  • Jamal Murray: 24.6 PPG (43 in Game 5)

  • Michael Porter Jr.: Shooting 39.3% from three

Los Angeles Clippers Breakdown:

The Clippers have the firepower but have struggled with consistency. Despite solid shooting splits (51.3% FG over last 10), they haven’t figured out Denver’s offense. Leonard remains efficient, and Zubac has stepped up, but Harden’s inconsistency is a problem. LA has been great ATS at home (14-6 last 20), but they’ll need a complete game to avoid elimination.

Key Players:

  • Kawhi Leonard: 26.1 PPG, 11 assists in Game 5

  • James Harden: 24.1 PPG, 9.9 APG (but just 11 points in Game 5)

  • Ivica Zubac: Averaging 12.0 RPG, 27 points in Game 5

Betting Trends:

Denver Nuggets:

  • 4-2 ATS in last 6 road games

  • UNDER has hit in 4 of their last 5

LA Clippers:

  • 14-6 ATS in last 20 home games

  • UNDER has hit in 4 of their last 5 games

Exact Score Prediction:

Denver Nuggets 108 – LA Clippers 104

Our Best Bet:

Denver Nuggets +6.5 (-110)

Despite being underdogs, Denver has shown they can win convincingly in LA and have the playoff experience edge. Jokic and Murray are peaking at the right time, and with momentum from a dominant Game 5, the Nuggets are in a strong spot to either win or keep this one close. Clippers may bounce back at home, but covering 6.5 points is a tall ask against a team this sharp.

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