The Denver Nuggets (0-1) will wrap up their season-opening two-game homestand when they host the Los Angeles Clippers (0-1) on Saturday. Denver fell to Oklahoma City, 102-87, in a matchup between Western Conference contenders on Thursday night. Los Angeles took Phoenix to overtime in its opener, but the Suns escaped with a 116-113 win. These teams split their four meetings last year, with Denver winning its lone home game in that series. 

Tipoff at Ball Arena in Denver is set for 5 p.m. ET. The SportsLine consensus lists Denver as an 8-point favorite in the latest Clippers vs. Nuggets odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 220.5. Before locking in any Nuggets vs. Clippers picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six seasons. The model ended the 2023-24 season on a sizzling 94-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning more than $2,800 in the process. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen huge returns. 

Now, the model has simulated Nuggets vs. Clippers 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Clippers vs. Nuggets:

• Clippers vs. Nuggets spread: Denver -8
• Clippers vs. Nuggets over/under: 220.5 points
• Clippers vs. Nuggets money line: Denver -355, Los Angeles +280
• LAC: The Clippers are 14-6 in their last 20 road games 
• DEN: The Nuggets are 5-0 in their last five home games against the Clippers
• Clippers vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine
• Clippers vs. Nuggets streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)

Why the Nuggets can cover

Denver struggled to get into a rhythm offensively against Oklahoma City on Thursday night, but its defense held the Thunder to just 42.6% shooting from the floor. The Nuggets are working several new pieces into their rotation, including Christian Braun’s emergence in the starting lineup and Russell Westbrook’s first season with the team. Westbrook had five rebounds and five assists in his Denver debut, but he shot just 2 of 10 from the floor. 

Braun was the only player on the team who shot better than 50% on Thursday, while Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 16 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. They are facing a Los Angeles team that is playing without star Kawhi Leonard (knee) and is coming off an overtime loss. Denver has covered the spread in seven of its last 10 Saturday home games, while the Clippers have only covered the spread three times in their last 10 outings. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why the Clippers can cover

Los Angeles is coming off a strong performance in its season opener, nearly pulling off an upset over the Suns as a 4.5-point underdog. The Clippers led by nine points in the fourth quarter and had a chance to send the game to double overtime, but James Harden missed a free throw. Harden finished two assists shy of a triple-double, tallying 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. 

Center Ivica Zubac had 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while shooting guard Norman Powell added 17 points. Denver’s 3-point shooting was a question mark coming into the season, and the Nuggets went just 7 of 38 from downtown on Thursday. They have only covered the spread three times in their last 10 games overall, while the Clippers have covered in four of their last five games in October. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Nuggets vs. Clippers picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning Under the total, projecting 219 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s picks. 

So who wins Clippers vs. Nuggets, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nuggets vs. Clippers spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.