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The No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers are set to host the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their 2025 NBA playoff series on Thursday. The Nuggets won Game 1, beating Los Angeles 112-110 in overtime. The Clippers responded by winning Game 2 105-102, stealing home court advantage as the series shifts to Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard was outstanding in the Clippers’ Game 2 win, scoring 39 points to go with five assists and three rebounds. Ivica Zubac also held his own against Nikola Jokic by posting a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) is a game-time decision for the Nuggets.
Tipoff from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., is at 10 p.m. ET. The teams split four regular-season matchups, while the Clippers have won three straight meetings at home. Los Angeles is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Nuggets vs. Clippers odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under for total points scored is 213.5. L.A. is at -229 on the money line (risk $229 to win $100), with Denver at +188 (risk $100 to win $188). Before locking in any Clippers vs. Nuggets picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the first full week of the 2025 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 156-116 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It is also 22-11 (67%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Nuggets vs. Clippers 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Nuggets vs. Clippers:
- Nuggets vs. Clippers spread: Clippers -5.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook
- Nuggets vs. Clippers over/under: 213.5 points
- Nuggets vs. Clippers money line: Los Angeles -229, Denver +188
- DEN: The Nuggets are 38-45-1 against the spread this season
- LAC: The Clippers are 48-35-1 against the spread this season
- Nuggets vs. Clippers picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Nuggets vs. Clippers streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Nuggets can cover
The Nuggets lost Game 2, but there were some positives to build off heading into Game 3. Denver turned the ball over 20 times, far above its regular season average of 13.5 turnovers per game, and went 14 of 22 from the free throw line. Despite their issues, the Nuggets kept Game 2 within three points and had a chance to tie the game on their final possession.
Jokic continues to be a dominant force for the Nuggets. The three-time NBA MVP averaged a triple-double during the regular season (29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists per game), and has continued that same level of production in the postseason. Through two games in this first round series, Jokic is averaging 27.5 points, 11.0 assists, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Clippers can cover
The Clippers are one of the premier defensive teams in the NBA, and it’s shown through two games in this series. Los Angeles has held Denver well below its season average of 120.5 points per game in both games of the series thus far. In Game 2, the Clippers limited the Nuggets to 102 points while forcing 20 turnovers.
Leonard and James Harden continue to play at a high level for Los Angeles. Leonard was stellar in Game 2, scoring 39 points to go with five assists and three rebounds. Harden is averaging 25.0 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game in this series thus far. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Clippers vs. Nuggets picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Nuggets vs. Clippers and is leaning Over on the point total, projecting 218 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Nuggets vs. Clippers, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Clippers vs. Nuggets spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
