Nuggets vs. Clippers Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for January 5 (Denver's Defense Shuts LA Down Yet Again)

Nuggets vs. Clippers Game Info

• Date: Thursday, January 5, 2023
• Time: 10:00 PM ET
• Venue: Ball Arena -- Denver, Colorado
• Coverage: TNT and BSSC

Four NBA matchup are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 5, including a Western Conference clash between the Denver Nuggets (24-13) and LA Clippers (21-18).

The Nuggets were last in action on Monday, picking up a 124-111 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road. Meanwhile, the Clippers have been stuck in a rut over the last week, losing their last three games, which includes a 110-100 loss to the Miami Heat three nights ago.

Do the Nuggets have what it takes to to remain dominant at Ball Arena? Or will the Clippers put an end to their losing ways on the road?

Nuggets vs. Clippers Odds & Spread

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: LAC: (+162) | DEN: (-194)
• Spread: LAC: +5 (-112) | DEN: -5 (-108)
• Total: 228.5 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Nuggets enter this contest as clear home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 10 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 228.5 points, which is the lowest of Thursday's totals.

Nuggets vs. Clippers Betting Trends

• The Nuggets covered 36 times in 82 chances against the spread last season.
• The Clippers went 11-10 as underdogs of 5 points or more last year.
• Last season, the combined scoring went over the point total 47 times in Nuggets games.
• The Clippers had 40 of their 82 games hit the over last season.

Nuggets vs. Clippers Prediction & Pick

After a disappointing loss on the road, the Nuggets return to Ball Arena where they've been phenomenal this season. In addition to winning 14 of their 17 home games thus far, the Nuggets boast the fifth-best offense (119.1 PPG) and third-best scoring margin (plus-9.2) at home this season.

It's tough to like the Clippers after losing each of their last two road games. It also doesn't help that LA is just 5-11(31.3%) straight up as the under this season, whereas Denver has won 19 of its 28 games (67.9%) as the favorite.

With the Nuggets beat the Clippers 114-104 back in November and have won eight of the last 11 games between the two teams, I'm confident that Denver will be tonight's victor.

Final Score Prediction: Nuggets: 117 | Clippers: 108

Nuggets vs. Clippers Best Bet

Even though the over has been hitting more often than not for both teams lately, the total going under 228.5 points is more likely tonight. The under is 11-4 in the last 15 Nuggets-Clippers meetings, finishing with fewer than 228.5 points in 12 of those outings.

My decision to go with the under is also solidified by the fact that the Clippers allow the 12th-fewest points on the road while the Nuggets surrender the 11th-fewest at home. Needless to say, don't expect a ton of points tonight.

Bet: Under 228.5 Points (-110)

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Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.