NBA: Denver Nuggets VS Los Angeles Clippers Pick and Predictions 01/13/2023

Game: 8:00 PM ET,  Friday, January 13th, 2023

Venue:  Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

TV: ESPN 

Nuggets: 28-13, 1st place Western Conference

Clippers: 22-21, 6th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Clippers -1.5, O/U 225

PointsBet: Point Spread: Clippers -2, O/U 225.5

Fanduel: Point Spread: Clippers -2, O/U 225

Nuggets: PF Michael Porter JR, SF Aaron Gordon, C Nikola Jokic, SG Kantavious Caldwell Pope, PG Jamal Murray

Clippers: PF Marcus Morris SR, SF Nicholas Batum, C Ivica Zubac, SG Kawhi Leonard, PG Terence Mann

An NBA Western Conference matchup between the best of the West… and an Average team that may have the best collection of players.  The Denver Nuggets stayed over in Los Angeles after handing the Lakers a blow-out loss.  The Nuggets looked amazing against a Lakers team that had very few quality pieces even to put on the floor.  Now the Nuggets are looking to get another blowout win against the Clippers in the same gym.  The problem for the Nuggets is the Clippers aren’t the Lakers.  The Clippers are deep and talented.  The Clippers stars have been returning from the recent spate of injuries… and the depth is unmistakable… If only the Clippers could win games and while staying healthy?... They might be unstoppable.  The Great Betting Opportunity here is going to be found in the point spread.  The Nuggets have the NBA’s best player in C Nikola Jokic… and Jokic definitely deserves the MVP award at this point so far…. Nikola is surrounded by some high quality starters and a little quality depth… The should be favored… but by how much?

The Denver Nuggets are on a 4-game winning streak and have won 8 of their last 10 games.  During this stretch they took possession of first place in the West and have been hanging tough to keep the red hot Memphis Grizzlies from taking it back. The Nuggets destroyed the Phoenix Suns 126-97 in their last game.  The Suns were so riddled with injury that they never stood a chance.  In the win C Nikola Jokic had 21 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists in just 28 minutes.  Jokic would sit the rest of the night as the game was never in question.  6 other Nuggets scored in double figures while every other Nugget played less than Joker’s 28 minutes.  We even got a 21 point performance from little used and rarely seen rookie PG Bones Hyland as he mopped the floor clean of any Laker resistance.  The Nuggets are not only very talented with a great centerpiece… They also are well rested.

The Los Angeles Clippers have only won 3 of their last 10 games.  They did however win their last game 113-101 against the Dallas Mavericks which was a nice win ATS.  In the win SG Kawhi Leonard broke loose with a 33 point, 9 rebound, and 4 assist game… an instant reminder that even though he has missed more Clipper games than he has played in?... He is still a former 2X Finals MVP… He got help from super sub SG/SF Norman Powell with 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 30 minutes of play.  Norman is a key secret weapon.  If the trio of PG-13, Klaw, and Norman Powell ever got to be healthy for an extended time at the same time?... This team would have an easy 60+ points a night from 3 guys, all of whom can play defense.  But based on past results… that “if” of health is hard for this team to come by.  

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DEN: 28-13, 22-19 ATS, 20-21 O/U, 10-10 in road games.

LAC: 22-21, 21-22 ATS, 17-26 O/U, 12-9 in home games.

The Nuggets are 5th in scoring with 117 points per game, 16th in rebounds with 43.3 per game, 3rd in AST/TO ratio with 1.9 per game, 21st in blocked shots with 4.4 per game.

The Clippers are 28th in scoring with 109.2 points per game, 9th in rebounds with 44.2 per game, 27th in AST/TO with 1.5 per game, and 18th in blocked shots with 4.6 per game.

Our prediction for Friday, January 13th is…. Nuggets 122- Clippers 119

Bet on the Nuggets. The Nuggets have been on a roll and all the role players that surround Jokic have been stepping up.

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66 of 103 games in this matchup have gone UNDER since 1996.

The Clippers are 29-22 ATS versus Denver since 1996.

All five games between these teams played in LA have gone UNDER the last 3 seasons.

Nuggets:  PG Jamal Murray. Jamal is this team’s #2 and he is a very solid #2 at that.  But he is an undersized guard.  His shooting may be good but he will have to get those shots off against the incredible length of Kawhi, Mann, and possibly Paul George… all good defenders.  Remember the Nuggets will get loads out of Jokic… but in games like these they also need loads out of Murray.

Clippers:  PG Terence Mann.  Terence has moved into PG as of late.  He is an all around player that can be struck as PG/SG/SF… it doesn’t matter to him… He is a gamer that wants to play and gives great effort wherever they put him.  His development has been very choppy since the team’s roster has fluctuated a lot since his selection as the 48th pick (2nd round) in the 2019 draft.  

Nuggets: Michael “will I be Nick Nurse this year?” Malone

Clippers: Tye “c’mon guys” Lue