Nuggets vs. Clippers | NBA Analysis, Odds, & Best Bets (4/24)

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are officially underway and today we’re here to talk about Game 3 between the Clippers and Nuggets.

For additional information on picks, props, money lines and more on today’s slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page, here. 

Clippers vs. Nuggets | Series Information

Matchup Information

• Location: Intuit Dome; Los Angeles, California
• Date: Thursday, April 24th, 2025
• Tipoff: 10:00 PM EST

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers | Regular Season Matchups

• Clippers (103) @ Nuggets (126) – 1/08/25
• Clippers (98) @ Nuggets (120) – 12/13/24
• Nuggets (122) @ Clippers (126) – 12/01/24
• Clippers (109) @ Nuggets (104) – 10/26/24

Betting Odds

Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

Clippers vs. Nuggets| Game 2 Recap

The Nuggets look to keep this from being a lost season.

Result: Clippers (105) – Nuggets (102)

The Clippers walked into Game 2, on the Nuggets’ home floor, down 1-0 in the series. Los Angeles let Game 1 slip out of their hands, leading by as many 15 points at times; that was not going to happen again in Game 2, Kawhi Leonard made sure of it.

Leonard entered the game with an intensity we haven’t seen from him since his 2019 run with Toronto Raptors. This is the first time he’s finished the season with the Clippers and this is what Clipper fans have been patiently waiting for. Leonard played 39 minutes, finished with 39 points, shot 15/19 from the field and had just 1 turnover. Vintage Klaw. 

Nikola Jokic finished the game 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists; recording his first triple double of the 2025 postseason. He shot 50% from the field and played great through two games, but he’s had his hands full on the defensive end with Ivica Zubac.

Instant Classic

This series is living up to every bit of the hype. Through two games, we’ve got a 1-1 series with neither team winning by more 3 points. In Game 2 we saw 18 lead changes, with neither team holding a lead greater than 8 and we saw both teams significantly slow down the pace of the game.

The Clippers flipped the script in Game 2, going from 20 turnovers in the first game to just 11 in the second. That resulted in the Nuggets scoring just 12 points off of turnovers, 17 fewer than they did in Game 1. This time is was Denver that got careless with the ball, turning it over 20 times of their own, resulting in 21 points for the Clippers the other way.

Through two games in this series, the team that wins the turnover battle is the team that comes home with the win. It’s been a defensive battle and now as the series shifts to Los Angeles, I expect the intensity to only go up.

Our Best Bets in Game 3 between the Nuggets and Clippers

Ivica Zubac o33.5 PRA (-120 via BetOnline)

Zubac is averaging 18.5 PPG and 12.5 RPG through the first two games and he’s managed to play 39 and 40 minutes in the two games. He was needed much in Game 2, with Kawhi scoring 39 points but he still managed to play 40 minutes and shoot 60% from the field. It’s a tough ask for any 7′ to match Jokic’s minutes, but through two games, Zubac has done just that.

Zub’s played 39 and 40 minutes in the two games, both in the altitude of Denver and with just a single day between games. Tonight the Clippers are back in Los Angeles,  having stole home court from the Nuggets and now with two days of rest between games. In games with 2-days of rest, Zub’s averaged 19.2 PPG and 13.5 RPG and even adding 3.1 APG.

Zubac has looked like an All-NBA Center this year and it’s just another testament to how much fun playing with James Harden can be. Zubac is averaging 19.7 PPG in his L20 games, in addition to 13.0 RPG and 3.2 APG.

With Nikola Jokic on the court, the Clippers best matchup is Zubac and they’ll need him out there for as long as he can go. He’s put some added preassure on Jokic in this series, grabbing 9 offensive rebounds in two games and leading the Clippers in paint scoring.

Jamal Murray o5.5 Assists (+112 via BetOnline)

This one’s going to be a sweat. The Clippers defense is elite, it’s been even better at home with the help of the home crowd and their infamous wall. Kawhi and company held the Nuggets to just 102 points in Game 2. Most of it was by forcing turnovers and stopping the Nuggets #1 ranked fast break offense.

Both Murray and Jokic scored just 49 combined points and the team scored just 14 fast break points. Both Jokic and Murray played north of 41 minutes in a game that didn’t include overtime. Murray finished with 6 assists on 9 potentials and has cleared this in 14 of his L20 games.

With Denver being on the road tonight, I expect Jokic to take on more of the socring load. The two-man game between Jokic and Murray has become a staple for Denver and they’ll it to walk away win a win tonight.

Looking for More?

Follow me on ‘X’ @VSaaauce for all my NBA expert picks and sports takes you didn’t ask for! Follow Betting News on ‘X’ and Twitch and catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks, and news!

Looking for a great promo for a new sportsbook? Check out our reviews of the best sportsbooks. 

More Betting Stories

• • MLB Best Bets Today
  • MLB Home Run Best Bets