Denver, CO — The NBA Playoffs are kicking off with a seismic Western Conference showdown as the Los Angeles Clippers storm into Ball Arena to face the reigning champion Denver Nuggets this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. With both teams ending the regular season locked at 50-32, the stakes couldn’t be higher — but it’s the Nuggets who’ve drawn first blood in the battle of expectations.
Despite their identical records, oddsmakers are leaning toward the home-court advantage, placing the Nuggets as slight favorites on the moneyline (-135). But what’s truly sending shockwaves through the league is the idea that the loaded Clippers, stacked with stars like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, could be seen as underdogs in what should be an evenly matched slugfest.
Experts and fans alike are buzzing over whether the Nuggets’ playoff pedigree and MVP-caliber dominance from Nikola Jokić will overpower the Clippers’ depth and experience. With tensions high and both franchises eyeing a deep postseason run, this opening game could set the tone for one of the most volatile and unpredictable series of the playoffs.