Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers Prediction, 9/3/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers

Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020

Location: AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles -6

Total/Over-Under: 228

Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers host the Denver Nuggets at AdventHealth Arena on Thursday in Game 1 of their series. The line on this matchup has Los Angeles as 6-point favorites. The over/under opens at 228.

The Clippers are the more well rested team after disposing of the Mavs in 6 games on Sunday. The Nuggets had a hard fought 7 game series that they just finished last Tuesday night against the Jazz, so they may be a little fatigued in Game 1.

The Nuggets are covering 49.3% of the time, having gone 37-38-5 ATS. Los Angeles is covering 57.7% of the time, going 45-33-0 against the spread.

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

8/31/2020 Vlatko Cancar SF Foot Expected to be out until at least Sep 3
8/28/2020 Will Barton SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Oct 1

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

9/1/2020 Patrick Beverley PG Calf Game Time Decision

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray comes into this game averaging 18.5 points per contest while playing 32.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Nikola Jokic averages 19.9 points per contest in 32.0 minutes per game. He averages 7.0 assists per game and 9.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 53% for the season while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Kawhi Leonard scores 27.1 points per contest while playing 32.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.1 rebounds per contest and has 4.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. Lou Williams averages 18.2 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 28.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.1 rebounds per game and has 5.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 111.3 points per contest, which is 19th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.1 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 4th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They average 44.1 boards per contest and 26.7 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 24th with 13.8 per game. The Nuggets allow 109.2 points per contest, which is 11th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 17th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.6 rebounds a game which ranks 4th, and they allow 25.4 assists per game which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 4th in the NBA with 116.3 points per contest this season. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 6.44. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 6th in the league. They are 3rd in the NBA in rebounding with 47.7 boards per contest and 22nd in assists per game with 23.7. The Clippers are 18th in turnovers per contest with 14.6. The Clippers give up 109.9 points per game, which ranks them 13th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 3rd and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 23.7 dimes allowed per game and 18th with 45.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Clippers are 11th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 111, and their offensive rating of 113.1 is ranked 16th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 9th. As a unit they are 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 27th in the NBA. Denver is 23rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 14th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 21st in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 28th in the league. The Clippers are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.9, and their defensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 8th in the league with 101.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 10th. As a team they are 6th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Nuggets/Clippers NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Los Angeles -6

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