Nuggets vs Clippers Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 4/24/25
- J.A. Cavalier
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
DENVER @ LA CLIPPERS (LAC -5, 214)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
NUGGETS @ CLIPPERS 4/24/25
Kawhi Leonard has won the NBA Finals MVP award twice, and his resume is chock full of outstanding postseason performances. He has been sidelined by his problematic right knee in recent seasons, but he is back to his best as the Los Angeles Clippers get ready for tonight's Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series against the visiting Denver Nuggets.
Leonard scored 39 points on 15 of 19 shots as Los Angeles defeated Denver 105-102 on Monday to tie the best-of-seven series at one game each. He scored 30 points or more in a playoff game for the 36th time in his career.
Through the first two games of the series, Leonard is scoring 30.5 points on 70.6 percent shooting (24 of 34) on average. Tyronn Lue, the coach of the Clippers, recognizes the value of having a healthy Leonard who can concentrate on the game without being distracted by injuries.
After splitting the first two games in Denver, the fifth-seeded Clippers will play their next two games at home. Ivica Zubac has contributed 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, and James Harden is also playing well, averaging 25 points and nine assists.
In Saturday's series opener, the fourth-seeded Nuggets prevailed 112-110 in overtime. However, they made 20 turnovers and were careless in Game 2. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic's 19th career playoff triple-double was marred by seven turnovers. He finished with 26 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds.
In the two games, Jokic has averaged 27.5 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Aaron Gordon averages 19.5 points and seven rebounds, while teammate Jamal Murray averages 22 points, 6.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds.
Jokic doesn't think there is much of a difference between the two rivals after the first game was decided in overtime and the Nuggets missed two three-pointers in the closing seconds of Game 2.
Denver's loss on Monday was their first in five games under interim head coach David Adelman. Adelman took over for Michael Malone who was unexpectedly fired late in the regular season. Adelman said one of his team’s big problems was the 20 turnovers that led to 21 points for the Clippers. Another issue was eight missed free throws (14-of-22)
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
NUGGETS OVER 103.5
The Clippers held Denver to 102 points in Game 2. That was the first time in 18 games the Nuggets were held Under tonight’s team total. Over their past 20 games, Denver has gone Over this number 18 times and averaged 118 ppg. Yes, it is the playoffs, but the Nuggets are on the road where they still average almost 119 ppg. As good as the Clippers defense is, they still allow over 105 ppg. Denver put up 112 in Game 1 and don’t forget, they play at the 8th-fastest pace in the NBA.
