The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets head back to altitude on Tuesday with their first-round series tied 2-2.
The pregame narrative: Nikola Jokic has done it all for the Nuggets through four games, which is to be expected. Norman Powell, meanwhile, has turned in an efficient shooting performance. I’m betting on each player to produce in Denver.
Check out my Clippers vs. Nuggets prop picks for Game 5 of the NBA first-round playoff series.
Clippers vs. Nuggets picks
Best Bet: Powell over 2.5 threes (+110)
Kawhi Leonard and James Harden are the No. 1 and 2 options for L.A., and that’s fine.
Powell has settled into the tertiary scoring role nicely, averaging 16.8 PPG this series and shooting 42.3% from deep.
The former Toronto Raptor is playing big minutes (33.8 a night) and has attempted eight 3s in consecutive games. He cleared this line in both outings.
Powell hit a pair of 3s in Games 1 and 2, so it’s not like he was far off from a clean sweep.
I’m most encouraged by the type of looks Powell’s getting.
He’s attempting 3.3 “wide open” 3s a night, according to nba.com. That’s categorized as a shot where the nearest defender is further than six feet away.
Unsurprisingly, having Harden and Leonard stretch the floor is leading to better looks.
Denver’s biggest problem defensively is limiting 3s. Dating back to the regular season, it allows the 10th-most 3s per game (14.1) at the sixth-highest rate (36.6%).
Key stat: Powell averaged career highs in 3s (3.0) and 3-point attempts (7.1) this season.
Game 5 prop prediction
Jokic over 9.5 assists (-108): Just how much can one man do? I feel like we’re asking that question nearly every time Jokic steps off the basketball court.
The three-time MVP has been unstoppable this postseason, and you could make a good argument to back him on any market.
I want to tap into Jokic’s elite passing abilities on Tuesday night.
- Jokic was second in APG (10.2) during the regular season.
- Entering postseason play on April 28, he’s second in APG (10.8) while playing a league-high 42.3 minutes per night.
- He’s also first in potential APG (19.5) this postseason, which nba.com classifies as a pass leading directly to a shot.
Jokic has cleared this line in three of four games this series and had eight assists in the outlier.
Los Angeles allowed the fifth-most assists per game to centres this season, according to Fantasy Pros.
Clippers vs. Nuggets prop picks made at 4:20 p.m. ET 04/28/2025.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.