The first Game 7 of this NBA playoff season takes place Saturday night in Denver when the Nuggets and Clippers play for the right to meet Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Denver trailed this series two games to one, then won Games 4 and 5 to take a 3-2 lead. But Los Angeles stayed alive with a victory in Game 6 Thursday night.
Who do we like for our free NBA playoffs betting pick?
NBA Betting Odds
The NBA playoffs betting market opened the Clippers as 1-point favorites for Saturday night, with an over/under of right around 205. Early betting action then flipped the Nuggets into 1.5-point favorites.
Clippers-Nuggets Game 7 Betting Preview
Los Angeles evened this best-of-seven affair with a 111-105 Game 6 victory Thursday night. The Clippers led 58-57 at the half, then pulled out to a 105-90 advantage with six minutes to go. LA allowed Denver to get within five points with a minute left but hung on for the W.
However, much to our delight, that late Nuggets surge cost the Clippers the cover at -7.
Also, Game 6 played over the closing total line of 212.
Denver actually out-shot Los Angeles from the floor Thursday night 52 percent to 50 percent but lost the turnover battle 14-7.
The Nuggets took the opener of this series two Saturdays ago 112-110 in overtime but the Clippers took Games 2 and 3 by scores of 105-102 and 117-83. Denver then won Game 4 on a bucket at the buzzer 101-99, then took Game 5 Tuesday 131-115.
So these teams, who posted identical 50-32 records during the regular, have now split 10 meetings this season.
NBA Betting Trends
The underdog is 8-2 ATS in Clippers-Nuggets games this season.
Totals Report
The unders are 6-4 in Clippers-Nuggets games this season, which are averaging (without overtime) 219 total points.
Prop Board
Denver F Jamal Murray, who tallied 37 points + rebounds + assists Thursday night, is catching +150 to hit over 37 PRA Saturday night.
