Hottest NBA Teams Heading into Playoffs: Celtics, Pacers, Clippers
The For the Hoopers crew debates the hottest NBA teams heading into the playoffs: Celtics, Pacers, Clippers?
The No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers and No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets play Saturday, April 19, in Game 1 of their first-round 2025 NBA playoffs series.
The game is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. Pacific time (3:30 p.m. Eastern time) and can be seen on ESPN (stream with FUBO).
Who will win the NBA playoff game?
Check out these NBA playoffs picks and predictions for the Western Conference matchup.
The Nuggets are a 2.5-point favorite over the Clippers in NBA playoffs odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. Denver is -145 on the moneyline. Los Angeles is +118. The over/under for the game is set at 225.5 points.
NBA playoffs series picks, predictions, odds: Cavaliers vs Heat | Celtics vs Magic | Knicks vs Pistons | Pacers vs Bucks | Thunder vs Grizzlies | Rockets vs Warriors | Lakers vs Timberwolves | Nuggets vs Clippers | NBA championship odds | Game odds | NBA playoff bracket
Watch Nuggets vs Clippers game on FUBO (free trial)
ESPN: Nuggets have a 60.5% chance to beat Clippers in Game 1
The site gives Los Angeles a 39.5% shot at defeating Denver in the first game of the NBA playoffs series.
NBA playoffs series schedules, TV channels: Heat vs Cavaliers | Magic vs Celtics | Pistons vs Knicks | Bucks vs Pacers | Grizzlies vs Thunder | Warriors vs Rockets | Timberwolves vs Lakers | Clippers vs Nuggets | Daily schedule | First-round matchups
The site’s formula predicts that Los Angeles will defeat Denver in Game 1 of the NBA postseason series.
NBA playoffs game picks, predictions, odds: Cavaliers vs Heat | Celtics vs Magic | Knicks vs Pistons | Pacers vs Bucks | Thunder vs Grizzlies | Rockets vs Warriors | Lakers vs Timberwolves | Nuggets vs Clippers | Betting: Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders
Dimers: Nuggets 114, Clippers 111
It writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives the Clippers a win probability of 40%, while the Nuggets have a win probability of 60%.”
FOX Sports: Nuggets 116, Clippers 114
It writes: “Of 82 games thus far this season, the Nuggets have had 60 with more than 225.5 points scored, their current matchup’s point total. This year, 32 of the Clippers’ 82 total matchups have gone over 225.5 total points scored. Between them, these two teams average 8.2 more points per game (233.7) than this matchup’s total (225.5).”
Syracuse.com: Nuggets 113, Clippers 111
It writes: “Our top pick for the Clippers vs Nuggets game on Saturday is to bet on the Nuggets moneyline.”
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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