The Los Angeles Clippers got here extremely so near eking out a Recreation 1 victory on the street in opposition to the Denver Nuggets of their best-of-seven collection, and we have got three skilled participant prop picks able to go as these two groups collide as soon as once more at Ball Area for Recreation 2 on Monday night time because the guests look to drag even.
Listed here are three participant prop picks to probably increase your models which lean closely in direction of Denver, together with an OVER on a PRA for Aaron Gordon (-118) on April 21.
Sequence Preview: No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
Recreation Preview: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET
Aaron Gordon OVER 24.5 Factors + Rebounds + Assists vs. Clippers (-118 at FanDuel)
We made financial institution wagering on Gordon’s numbers in Recreation 1 by taking an OVER on 20.5 factors and rebounds at -130 worth, which he exceeded in factors alone by ending with 25 factors to go together with eight rebounds after taking part in 46 minutes. The logic was that he was going to see a ton of time defending Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard as he was Denver’s finest choice to throw on the two-time Finals Most Invaluable Participant. That was undoubtedly true as Gordon defended Leonard greater than 3 times as any minutes as any of his Denver teammates, with Leonard turning over the ball 3 times and solely scoring six factors in that matchup.
Now taking part in 46 minutes per sport constantly transferring ahead is not sustainable, but when that is the Nuggets’ finest probability to maintain Leonard’s manufacturing at bay, then Gordon’s function is not in danger in any way. His PRA (factors + rebounds + assists) being set at 24.5 is a secure play if he stays out of foul bother, and he solely had two private fouls on Saturday.
Gordon ended the common season with an OVER at this quantity in 5 of his final six appearances and 14 of his final 19, as effectively. Like we wrote on Saturday, there is a robust chance that the 11-year professional might be the Nuggets’ second-most vital participant by the tip of this collection when it is all stated and accomplished. To this point, so good.
Jamal Murray OVER 24.5 Factors + Assists vs. Clippers (-110 at FanDuel)
Talking of heavy minutes, Jamal Murray had Gordon beat in Recreation 1 by taking part in two greater than his teammate at 48 which is the equal of a full regulation sport, though Saturday’s outing did want an additional 5 minutes to find out a winner. Any considerations over his current hamstring harm lingering appear to have vanished, as a result of interim head coach David Adelman isn’t trotting out his No. 2 scorer for that size of time if he isn’t near 100%.
Murray took the second-most pictures for Denver with 20, though he solely hit seven to finish up with 21 factors, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. That might have been his eighth-worst efficiency from an effectivity standpoint in the course of the season, however with Michael Porter Jr. solely taking 4 pictures in whole, Murray needed to nearly hold chucking it as much as compensate for the Nuggets’ No. 3 man being a ghost.
Saturday served because the fifth time in Murray’s final six seems on the Clippers that he is gone OVER 24.5 mixed factors and assists. Denver’s second-unit has seemingly been diminished to eight guys, with Russell Westbrook being the one bench participant to play any substantial size of time in Recreation 1. Participant props for guys topping 40 minutes within the playoffs are ever so juicy, and Murray would not must look over his shoulder for somebody raring to chop into his time.
Russell Westbrook OVER 10.5 Factors vs. Clippers (-132 at FanDuel)
Westbrook giveth and Westbrook taketh away. The Nuggets and their followers skilled the complete spectrum of feelings on Saturday because it pertained to how the 36-year-old veteran fared, watching him drill an uncontested 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining within the fourth quarter to place Denver up two. He was then indecisive and a bit overzealous on the ultimate possession which despatched the sport to additional time earlier than his aspect finally prevailed.
We do not ask how and we do not ask why. Merely put, Westbrook nonetheless ended up with 15 factors on 17 shot makes an attempt and was a internet optimistic at +7 in 34 minutes. As irritating as he may be, the previous league Most Invaluable Participant goes to proceed being an vital cog to what the Nuggets look to do on the hardwood as a result of that bench is sparse on viable choices.
His 17 pictures had been greater than he took in any sport whereas taking part in for Los Angeles in final yr’s postseason, so if that is the diploma of output Westbrook goes to have and his factors prop is barely into the double digits, it’s essential to nail the OVER mainly the entire time. He is now gone OVER 10.5 factors in 12 of his final 15 appearances for Denver, as effectively, and that ought to proceed right here on Monday night time.
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