The Nuggets face the Clippers on Boxing Day
Denver is a 4-point road favorite as Paul George remains out for LA
Find the odds, preview, and prediction below
Boxing Day action will conclude with an intriguing Western Conference matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 PM EST.
Denver will be looking to break out their two-game losing streak after falling to LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. As for the Clippers, they beat the lowly Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Paul George returned to the lineup earlier this week after missing five games and unfortunately, the veteran actually has a torn ligament in his elbow which is set to keep him out for the distant future.
Nuggets vs Clippers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | -4 (-110) | -168 | OFF |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +4 (-110) | +142 | OFF |
Odds as of December 25th at FanDuel.
Nikola Jokic and Co. head into this contest as a 4-point road favorite but have struggled on the road ATS, going just 7-10. The Clippers meanwhile are 8-12 ATS on home court this season.
Denver in Good Shape For Boxing Day
The Nuggets have a relatively healthy squad for Sunday’s game, with the only absences being Bol Bol and Markus Howard, who are out due to COVID-19. Other than long-term absentees like Michael Porter and Jamal Murray, they’re in good shape here. Aaron Gordon returns to the lineup as well after missing the Hornets match.
Denver desperately needs a victory after two rather distraught performances. First, Michael Milone’s squad lost to the OKC Thunder on Wednesday by 14 points, then just 24 hours later, the same result against Charlotte. Although Nikola Jokic was an absolute monster with 29 points and a mind-boggling 21 rebounds, he only shot 16% from downtown. The biggest storyline however was the Nuggets’ inability to hold onto a clear advantage.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Denver led 94-77 and ended up losing 115-107. They were outscored 38-13 in the final period, with their defense absolutely collapsing. The Nuggets actually shot the ball fairly well on the night, draining 35% of their triples and connecting on a 42% clip from the field.
In most offensive aspects, Milone’s group impressed, with a total of seven players collecting 10 or more points. This simply came down to their awful defensive effort. Having Gordon back in the fold against Los Angeles will help in that regard.
How Will Clippers Fare Without PG?
Already without Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers honestly can’t afford to also be missing George. But, it was clear that he was in pain across the last two games and sure enough, the seven-time All-Star is going to miss substantial time. When PG isn’t in the lineup this season, LA is 3-3. It’s a respectable record, but Ty Lue’s team doesn’t exactly have a go-to scorer to really pick up the slack offensively when George is sidelined.
But, if a performance like Wednesday can be replicated, the Clips could be able to stay afloat. Eric Bledsoe actually led the charge with 19 points, while both Serge Ibaka and PG dropped 17 apiece. In fact, five different players finished in double-digits. Los Angeles took advantage of the Kings’ poor defense, outscoring them 54-36 in the paint and scoring 29 fastbreak points as opposed to just six for Sacramento.
LA will be shorthanded vs. Denver though as Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris will both be out due to COVID-19. Jackson in particular is a notable blow because he’s usually the second option on offense aside from George, averaging 17.2 points per game this season.
Nuggets vs Clippers Prediction
The Clippers could definitely manage to win some ballgames with George on the shelf, but the absence of Jackson really makes it a lot more difficult. Although LA has a slightly better record at the moment, the Nuggets are going to be extremely motivated for a victory after basically throwing one away against Charlotte. The Joker will have another big game and help his squad cover the spread.
Pick: Nuggets -4 (-110)
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