LA Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Any-day matchup · ratings as of
A probability, not a promise. A 57% pick still loses about 4 times in 10.
Advantages Why Nuggets can win
- The Nuggets' shooting (56.9% eFG%, 2nd in the NBA) meets a Clippers defense that ranks 18th.
- The Nuggets' offense (118.2 points per 100 possessions, 1st in the NBA) meets a Clippers defense that ranks 18th.
- Simulation: the Nuggets win 5,680 of 10,000 simulated games.
- Home court: the Nuggets play at home, worth about 2 points in today's NBA.
- Net rating (points per 100 possessions): Nuggets 7th (+4.1), Clippers 15th (+0.9).
Disadvantages Why Nuggets may not
- Upset odds: the Clippers win 4,320 of 10,000 simulations (43%). A 57% pick still loses about 4 times in 10.
- The Clippers' shooting (55.9% eFG%, 4th in the NBA) meets a Nuggets defense that ranks 13th.
- The Clippers' offense (114.0 points per 100 possessions, 10th in the NBA) meets a Nuggets defense that ranks 21st.
- Turnovers forced per 100 possessions: Clippers 14th (14.5), Nuggets 30th (11.9).
- Range of outcomes: in the worst 10% of simulations the Nuggets lose by 14 or more.
The line and our numbers
| Market | AZMango | |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | No line yet | DEN -2.2 |
| Total points | n/a | 226.4 |
| Win chance | LAC n/a · DEN n/a | LAC 43% · DEN 57% |
| Fair moneyline | LAC +131 · DEN -131 |
No betting line for this pairing. Odds change all the time, so check a sportsbook before acting on any number here.
10,000 simulated games, possession by possession
- Typical score: Nuggets 115, Clippers 112.
- 80% of simulations land between Clippers by 14 and Nuggets by 19.
Side by side
| LAC | DEN | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Record | 2-2 |
| +0.9 15 | Net rating | +4.1 7 |
| 114.0 10 | Offensive rating | 118.2 1 |
| 113.0 18 | Defensive rating | 114.1 21 |
| 55.9% 4 | Effective FG% | 56.9% 2 |
| 54.6% 18 | Opponent eFG% | 54.1% 13 |
| 14.7 20 | Turnovers per 100 | 12.7 3 |
| 23.8% 24 | Offensive rebound % | 23.3% 28 |
| 36.9% 5 | 3-point % | 38.8% 1 |
| 99.6 29 | Pace | 102.1 20 |
Small numbers are league ranks (1 = best of 30; pace 1 = fastest). Ratings are points per 100 possessions (2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons).
Last 5 meetings
| Date | Season | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | 2025-26 | DEN 114 @ LAC 115 | LAC |
| 2026-01-30 | 2025-26 | LAC 109 @ DEN 122 | DEN |
| 2025-11-12 | 2025-26 | DEN 130 @ LAC 116 | DEN |
| 2025-05-03 | Playoffs | LAC 101 @ DEN 120 | DEN |
| 2025-05-01 | Playoffs | DEN 105 @ LAC 111 | LAC |
No betting line exists for a game that isn't scheduled, so this uses our own power ratings (in the backtest they pick about 66% of winners, against about 68% for the closing line), with both teams at full strength.
Basis: power ratings only (no betting line yet). 10,000 simulated games, checked against a walk-forward backtest of 10,227 NBA games since 2018-19. Model version 1. How it works