Clippers vs Nuggets Predictions, Odds & Injury Report (Friday, Dec. 13)

• The Clippers visit the Nuggets in a Friday night Western Conference battle
• Los Angeles is a 5.5-point road underdog in the latest Clippers vs Nuggets odds
• Read on for Clippers vs Nuggets predictions, picks, odds and injury updates for Friday

The Los Angeles Clippers will look to bounce back from two straight losses when they take on the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

Denver returns from a lengthy break following a 141-111 road win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, led by Nikola Jokic’s 48 points. The Nuggets have been inconsistent this season, though, failing to win consecutive games in over a month.

The latest Clippers vs Nuggets odds show Los Angeles as 5.5-point road underdogs, with a total of 227.5 points. Can the Clippers cover the spread against a Nuggets squad that has struggled to string together wins?

Let’s break down my Clippers vs Nuggets picks and predictions for Friday, December 13.

Clippers vs Nuggets Predictions

The Clippers come into this one looking to shake off a two-game skid, with recent losses to Houston and Minnesota putting a damper on what had been a solid multi-game win streak. But there’s reason for optimism in LA’s camp.

The Clips were without James Harden (groin) in their 117-106 loss to the Rockets, forcing Norman Powell to shoulder more of the scoring load with 17 points. The good news? Harden got through a full practice Wednesday and should be good to go Friday night.

Another boost for LA has been Kawhi Leonard’s return to practice this week after his lengthy knee rehab. While he’s still a ways away from game action, Leonard’s return to team activities gives the Clippers a nice morale boost.

Kawhi Leonard participated in Clippers practice today.

“He laced up his shoes, breathed heavily, and walked back to the locker room.”

(Via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/sbo1vRQdoY

— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) December 11, 2024

When this roster is clicking, LA has one of the most complete lineups in the West. They’re currently 5th in scoring defense (107.4 PPG), anchored by Ivica Zubac’s presence inside (12.2 boards per game) and the wing defense of seven-foot Kai Jones.

On offense, they’ve got six guys averaging double figures, with Powell leading the way at 23.6 PPG while Harden dishes out 8.5 assists in more of a floor general role.

Denver’s inconsistency at Ball Arena (6-4) makes laying 5.5 points a tough ask. The Nuggets are just 3-6-1 ATS at home and have struggled as bigger favorites, going 0-4 ATS when laying 5.5 or more.

Back from the break #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/3SJPWpa879

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 13, 2024

The wild card here is Jamal Murray’s status. The dynamic guard is questionable with a hamstring issue. If he sits, there’s even more weight on Jokic’s shoulders to generate offense. While Michael Porter Jr. (19.0 PPG) can fill it up, he doesn’t create for others like Murray.

I’m rolling with the Clippers +5.5 here. They’re getting healthier, defend at a high level, and have enough scoring punch to keep this tight. Their 7-3 ATS road record doesn’t hurt either.

For the total, I’m leaning over 227.5 points. Denver’s offense is top-5 in the NBA at 118.7 PPG, and while LA defends well, they’ve hit the over in 3 of their last 4. This should be a back-and-forth affair between two teams with plenty of firepower.

Clippers vs Nuggets Picks:

• Clippers +5.5 (-105)
• Lean: OVER 227.5 (-115)

Clippers vs Nuggets Odds

The Clippers enter this matchup as 5.5-point road underdogs at ESPN Sportsbook. The line has moved from Clippers +6.5 to +5.5, indicating some sharp money backing the road team. LA backers can get the Clips at -105 odds to cover the spread, while Denver sits at -115 to cover as home favorites.

On the moneyline, the Clippers are +190 underdogs to win outright. A $100 bet on LA returns $190 in profit if they pull the upset. The Nuggets are -225 moneyline favorites, so it would take a $225 bet to win $100 on Denver.

The total is at 227.5 points, with the over juiced slightly to -115 and the under coming back at -105. That signals some early action favoring a higher-scoring game.

ESPN BET

Offer

T&Cs

Bet $10 & Get $100 + 30 Days of ESPN+

Must manually enter promo code DIME to claim offer.

Must be 21+, offer available in MI, NJ, PA, WV only.

LOCK IN PROMO

CODE: DIME

CODE: DIME

SIGNUP OFFER

USE PROMO CODE
DIME

BET $10, GET $100
+ 30 DAYS OF ESPN+

GET OFFER NOW

Odds as of December 13, 2024, at ESPN Sportsbook. Claim the ESPN Bet promo code to bet on Friday Night NBA basketball.

Clippers vs Nuggets Injury Report

The Nuggets are dealing with a few key injuries but could get a boost if Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun return as expected. Jamal Murray remains questionable with right hamstring inflammation, while Dario Saric is sidelined with an ankle sprain.

For the Clippers, they remain without Kawhi Leonard as he continues his knee injury recovery. They’ll also be missing Terance Mann (finger fracture) and Derrick Jones Jr. (hamstring strain), while P.J. Tucker remains away from the team. The shortened rotation could mean more minutes for the supporting cast against Denver.