Preview: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets

Sports Mole previews Friday’s NBA clash between Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, including predictions, team news and form guides.

The Intuit Dome will play host to its first-ever playoff match as the Los Angeles Clippers welcome the Denver Nuggets for Game Three of the sides’ playoff matchup on Friday.

With the series tied at one win apiece, both teams will be looking to edge ahead here and put themselves halfway through making it to the Western Conference semi-finals.

Match preview
© Imago

In what has been billed as arguably the most difficult first-round matchup this year to pick a winner, the Los Angeles Clippers just about did enough to edge another closely contested affair against the Denver Nuggets in Tuesday’s Game Two at the Ball Arena.

Trailing 1-0 after the opening clash, Tyronn Lue’s men knew another defeat would put them in a precarious position, and after being down 31-25 at the end of the first quarter, they went on to outscore their opponents 80-71 over the subsequent 36 minutes to turn the game on its head.

Off the back of a relatively underwhelming Game One display where he managed just 22 points and had seven turnovers, some of which were costly in the grand scheme of things, Kawhi Leonard could not have served up a better response last time out with a 39-point clinic.

Leonard knocked down four of his seven attempts from beyond the arc and 15 of his 19 shots overall for his highest scoring game since a 41-point performance against the Utah Jazz back in December 2023.

Despite Leonard’s mesmerising display, the Clippers only managed to win by three points, highlighting how little margin for error there is if they are to take a series lead with a victory in Friday’s encounter.

Currently on a 13-1 run across their last 14 home matches, the home side have been near-perfect in front of their fans of late and will be confident of rising up to the occasion on a historic night for their new arena.

Taking their momentum from Saturday’s hard-fought Game One victory, the Nuggets made a positive start to Tuesday’s second matchup and looked to be on course for a 2-0 lead but just about came up short.

David Adelman’s men had battled hard to take a 97-96 lead with just over three minutes left to play, during which they managed just one field goal made while also giving up a combined four to Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell and Leonard.

While the Nuggets benefitted from their on-ball pressure in Game One, which forced the Clippers into 20 turnovers, they were guilty of being careless in possession this time around, turning over the ball 20 times, nine more than their opponents.

However, the 2023 champions have shown their superiority on the glass across the two matches so far with a +19 rebounding differential, which could come in handy in a crunch Game Three in Los Angeles.

Fresh off the back of a 19th career playoff triple-double, MVP finalist Nikola Jokic will need to be on song once again alongside Jamal Murray, who has notched a combined 44 points in the series so far.

Los Angeles Clippers NBA Playoffs form:

Denver Nuggets NBA Playoffs form:

Team News
© Imago

DaRon Holmes II remains out of contention with an Achilles problem and is not expected back in action for the Denver Nuggets until the early exchanges of next season.

Power forward Aaron Gordon has been managing a niggling calf injury since the start of April but is expected to play through the pain barrier in this one.

Twenty-five-year-old Seth Lundy will not play any part for the Clippers on Friday as he continues his spell on the treatment table with a long-term ankle problem.

Australian international Patty Mills could also miss out for the home side here due to an illness which has kept him sidelined for the last two weeks of action.

Los Angeles Clippers possible starting five:
Harden, Dunn; Powell, Leonard; Zubac

Denver Nuggets possible starting five:
Murray, Braun; Porter Jr, Gordon; Jokic

We say: Clippers to win by 4+ points
The Clippers have done well to come away from the opening two games on enemy territory level and will now be looking to take control of proceedings in front of their fans.

We are backing them to get the better of the Nuggets and take a 2-1 series lead when all is said and done.

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