After what was a wild Game 1 on Saturday afternoon, the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets are back on the court tonight after just one night off. It’s a Game 2 that we’re hoping is just as exciting and back-and-forth as Game 1, and we’re here to break down our Clippers vs. Nuggets predictions for you.

Of course, that means a best bet from our Clippers vs. Nuggets picks, which you'll be able to add to with a guaranteed PrizePicks Fantasy sign up bonus!

 

 

 

Clippers vs. Nuggets Predictions For NBA Playoffs Game 2, 4/21

For those that may not remember, the very first 2025 NBA playoff game back on Saturday was quite uneventful with a 19-point blowout of the Milwaukee Bucks by the Indiana Pacers. That’s what made the Game 1 overtime thriller between the Clippers and Nuggets even more exciting.

It was also even more thrilling because it certainly didn’t look like things were going to be close thanks to the Clippers already leading by eight after just the first quarter. That was despite the Clippers vs. Nuggets odds having it set to be a close game, not to mention having Denver favored by 2.5 points.

Speaking of which, when the Nuggets for their three-point 103-100 lead in overtime, it was their largest of the entire game. With all that in mind, there is so much to unpack regarding both teams before locking in a best bet from our Clippers vs. Nuggets predictions.

 

 

 

Los Angeles Clippers: The LA Collapse

Given the aforementioned blazing start by the Clippers, how on Earth did they let this Game 1 slip away? Stealing one on the road would have been crucial for them, and while the Nuggets did chip away at the lead, it really was the fourth quarter where LA let the game out of their grasp.

It began with the failure to even inbound the ball within five seconds, and in total, they had six turnovers in the final quarter. Two of which were by Kawhi Leonard, who had seven throughout the game. Overall, he had a solid performance, but he didn’t come up clutch when he needed to most. He’ll need to keep pace with teammate James Harden (32 points) to even this series up.

 

 

 

Denver Nuggets: The Russell Westbrook Rollercoaster

For as long as he’s taken the court, if there is one thing Russell Westbrook is known for, it’s playing at max energy 100% of the time. That’s led to record-breaking triple-doubles and some of the most head-scratching plays, and that’s exactly what Nuggets fans experienced during their miraculous comeback.

It was Westbrook’s three-pointer when down 96-95 that helped them answer and ultimately get it to overtime, but it was also his incredibly awkward drive to the hoop and “floater” when up 108-104 in overtime that nearly ruined the comeback. While Denver is still all about Nikola Jokic, we may see more of these games hinge on the performance of Russell Westbrook.

 

 

 

Clippers vs. Nuggets Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

Just like we saw in Game 1, the Clippers vs. Nuggets odds for Game 2 are suggesting yet another close game, overtime thriller or not:

 

 

 

Clippers vs. Nuggets Best Bet: Kawhi Leonard Over 23.5 Points (Use His Player Card At PrizePicks Fantasy)

As for the best bet from our Clippers vs. Nuggets predictions, we’re circling back to a name that we mentioned already - Kawhi Leonard. He’s one that is discussed by far more fans and analysts than us, as injuries and his overall stoic nature has many in doubt.

Well, he’s still an absolute All-Pro player when he’s able to be on the court, and the sheer fact that oddsmakers have his points prop higher than what he scored in Game 1 means that we aren’t the only ones going to overreact. After all, Kawhi Leonard has averaged far more than this line in the postseason, even since leaving the San Antonio Spurs.

In his first three years with the Clippers, Kawhi averaged 28.2, 30.4 and 34.5 points per game in the playoffs. He was on a similar tear heading into these playoffs, leading LA to an eight-game winning streak prior to Saturday’s Game 1. In fact, we can go back even further to demonstrate what a healthy Kawhi Leonard can do.

In his last 15 games, he scored fewer than 22 points just twice, and when everything was on the line against the Golden State Warriors on the final day of the regular season, he went off for 33 points. As if all that wasn’t enough, we saw Denver virtually bench Michael Porter in Game 1 after scoring just three points in 26 minutes.

That’s why Russell Westbrook was on the court so much, which is not the defensive matchup replacement for Kawhi. Even if LA isn’t able to even up the series, we still love Kawhi Leonard over 23.5 points (target his player projection at PrizePicks Fantasy as well) as the best bet from our Clippers vs. Nuggets predictions.
 

 

 

Clippers vs. Nuggets Injury Report & Starting Lineup

Before officially deciding to fade or follow our best bet, make sure that you also have the latest Clippers vs. Nuggets injury news. Well, in this rare case, you could have! These are arguably the healthiest teams in the entire NBA, and with nothing new popping up after Game 1, we expect the star-studded Clippers vs. Nuggets lineups tonight:

LA Clippers:

DEN Nuggets:

 

 

 

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