LA Clippers (33-27) at Denver (40-18)
When: Sunday, February 24th, 2019
Where: Pepsi Center,
Denver, Colorado
Time: 5:05 ET | TV: NBA TV
Opening Odds: Denver -10/227
The Los Angeles Clippers aren’t getting passed the first round of the NBA Playoffs this season – if they even make it at all – but will be seeing a team that could be a potential matchup this Spring when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Los Angeles is clinging to the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference despite trading away leading scorer Tobias Harris to Philadelphia prior to the trade deadline. The Clippers came out of the All-Star Break with a nice 112-106 road win at Memphis behind small forward Danilo Gallinari and solid bench-play to stay two games clear of ninth-place Sacramento in the race for the postseason. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are near the top of the conference standings, two games behind Golden State after a 114-104 win at Dallas. Denver came out a little sloppy but a 73-54 rebounding edge over the Mavericks proved to be the difference, and they’ll return home with a 25-4 mark at Pepsi Center. Denver has already won the first three meetings of the season with the Clippers, including a 121-100 home win in the most recent matchup on January 10th and have covered the spread in two of the three.
Just three players scored in double-figures for L.A. in the win over Memphis, led by Montrezi Harrell’s career high of 30 on 11-of-14 shooting coming off the bench. Lou Williams also came off the bench to contribute 18 points, while Gallinari was the only starter with more than eight points (23) as the Clippers played their seventh road game to one home since the beginning of February. Los Angeles is 17-15 away from home (18-14 ATS) and will play three of their next four away from Staples Center, but do have a home date Monday night versus Dallas.
All-Star center Nikola Jokic leads Denver in just about every offensive statistical category and handed out eight of the team’s 32 assists on Friday. Jokic also led seven players in double-figures with 19 points, while also grabbing 13 rebounds in the near triple-double. Mason Plumlee played 21 minutes off the bench and managed 12 points and 13 rebounds, while former Celtic Isaiah Thomas scored 16 in his second game with Denver. The Nuggets will host playoff hopefuls Oklahoma City and Utah on this four-game homestand that starts Sunday with the Clippers.
Denver is terrific at home and don’t be afraid to lay this many points. When the Nuggets are favored by nine or more, they’re 9-3 ATS and beat the Clippers by 21 at Pepsi Center just last month. I’ll take Denver here.
Pick: Nuggets -9
Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Sunday games.
Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Clippers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
Clippers are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 vs. NBA Northwest.
Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Nuggets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Nuggets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Nuggets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 4-0 in Clippers last 4 overall.
Under is 3-0-1 in Clippers last 4 Sunday games.
Over is 4-0 in Clippers last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0-1 in Clippers last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 4-0 in Clippers last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
Over is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 10-4 in Clippers last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 23-10 in Clippers last 33 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 9-4 in Clippers last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 8-1 in Nuggets last 9 home games.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 8-2 in Nuggets last 10 Sunday games.
Over is 5-2 in Nuggets last 7 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-2 in Nuggets last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 14-6 in Nuggets last 20 games following a straight up win.
Under is 23-10 in Nuggets last 33 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Denver.
Home team is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
Under is 35-16 in the last 51 meetings.
Clippers are 3-8 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Denver.
