Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Predictions, Picks, Betting Splits & Best Odds (Game 3)

• The LA Clippers host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night with their best-of-seven series tied 1-1
• The Clippers are sizable home favorites behind Kawhi Leonard
• See the Nuggets vs Clippers picks, predictions, and best odds for Game 3 on April 24

After earning a split on the road, the LA Clippers (50-32, 30-11 home) host the Denver Nuggets (50-32, 24-17 away) in Game 3 of their best-of-seven first-round series on Thursday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, at 7:10 pm PT/10:10 pm ET.

LA, which went a solid 30-11 at home this season, is a 5.5-point hom-court favorite at most sportsbooks in Thursday’s NBA odds, and range from -225 to -235 on the moneyline.

Nuggets vs Clippers Prediction & Picks

• Kawhi Leonard over 24.5 points (-125) at FanDuel
• Clippers -2.5 (-176) at DraftKings

Don’t look now but Kawhi Leonard (21.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.1 APG) might just have turned back the clock. The two-time NBA-champion averaged just 21.5 points per game in 31.9 MPG over 37 games in the regular season. But he looked reinvigorated down the stretch, averaging 26.7 in the month of April. After scoring 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting (1-of-3 from the free-throw line) in LAC’s Game 1 loss (112-110 OT), he was far more aggressive in Game 2, dropping 39 points on 15-of-19 from the floor plus 4-of-7 from the stripe.

Leonard was also much less careless with the ball in Game 2. He committed seven turnovers and had just two assists in Game 1 but dished out five dimes with one turnover in the Game 2 victory.

The other main reason that I’m backing Leonard and the Clippers tonight is that Nikola Jokic played well in both Games 1 and 2, and yet LAC still managed to earn the road split. The three-time MVP, who averaged a triple-double during the regular season, is still doing so in the playoffs despite the slower pace and heightened defense. Through two games, Jokic is scoring 27.5 PPG on 50% shooting with 10.0 RPG and 11.0 APG. He also added three steals in each of Game 1 and 2.

If the Clippers can get the better of Denver on the road while Jokic is near the height of his powers, I love their chances of keeping up their Game 2 momentum in Game 3 on home court. The Nuggets did go 2-2 against the Clippers in the regular season but Leonard didn’t play in any of the four games, and LAC won the only home game (126-122 as three-point home underdogs).

After winning Game 2 on the road, LAC became the -180 favorite to win the series and advance to the second round of the NBA playoff bracket where they would face the winner of #1 OKC vs #8 Memphis.

Best DEN Nuggets vs LA Clippers Odds

The Nuggets vs Clippers Game 3 spread is 5.5 across the board at this point, and there is very little variation in the price. Counterintuitively, ESPN Bet has the best odds on both teams to cover at the moment; the site is offering both sides at reduced -107 juice. All other books currently have both DEN and LAC at -110 to cover.

On the moneyline, Caesars has the longest odds on a Denver straight-up victory at +192. DraftKings has the best price on the LAC moneyline at -225.

There is a half-point range on the total. DraftKings has it the highest at 214.0 with -110 odds each way, making it the bets option for under bettors. BetMGM (among other books) has it at 213.5, again with -110 both ways, meaning it’s the best option for over bettors.

DEN vs LAC Public-Betting Splits

Somewhat curiously, Thursday’s NBA public betting splits favor the Nuggets on the moneyline but the Clippers against the spread. Denver is getting 52% of moneyline handle on 55%of the wagers as a +196 underdog. LAC is getting 59% of ATS handle on 69% of ATS tickets as 5.5-point home favorites.

With respect to the game total, the public is hammering the over, putting 89% of handle and 90% of bets on the over as of 6:48 pm ET.

The Clippers are currently the +2500 sixth-favorite in the NBA Championship odds,well ahead of the Nuggets at +6000.