2 min read • March 22, 2022
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The late night televised matchup features teams missing key starters but both squads are currently in the playoff hunt. The Clippers will play without F Paul George (elbow) and F Kawhi Leonard (knee) while the Nuggets will ball down G Jamal Murray (knee) and F Michael Porter Jr. (back), just as they’ve done for the majority of the season.
Nuggets SIC Health Score - 83.9
Denver has played up and down this season without Murray and Porter Jr. sitting at 6th in the Western Conference. However, the Nuggets are dangerously close to falling into the play-in tournament with just a 0.5 game between them and the 7th place Minnesota Timberwolves.
Missing 38.6 points per game combined from the two starters out has hurt the Nuggets offensively but not as drastically as one might think. After finishing 7th overall in team points per game last season, Denver has only dropped 4 spots this season in large part to the continued dominance of 2020-2021 NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (FD $11,500).
The walking triple double is going for a tenth straight game in which he leads his teams in points, rebounds, and assists. In those games, Jokic has averaged 30.1 points per game, 12.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists.
Backup PF JaMychal Green (FD $3,600) is listed as probable due to a left hip contusion. Green was able to suit up Sunday posting 6 points and 5 boards.
Clippers SIC Health Score - 81.7
The forgotten LA team has surprised everyone by playing exceptional basketball without premier stars George and Leonard. They currently hold a 36-37 record and sit in 8th in the West, deeply entrenched in the play-in tournament scenario.
Points have come at a premium for the Clippers which makes sense as both stars were heavily relied on to carry the offense game to game. After finishing 12th in points per game last year with 113.5, they sit at a lowly 26th managing just 106.7 points per game.
Players like G Reggie Jackson (FD $7,200) and G Luke Kennard (FD $4,700) have provided valuable contributions on the offensive end including three point shooting with each making over 150 threes this year.
Veteran F Marcus Morris (FD $5,800) has missed a total of 26 games this season but has played well of late going over 20 points three times in the last 5 games he has suited up including a 31-point outing on March 13 versus the Pistons.
Team SIC scores for each are rather close leaving little in terms of an injury advantage but betting and DFS plays can be had:
Nikola Jokic O8.5 Assists - The big man can do everything including pick out the right pass, expect the offense to run through him as it has all season
Clippers +6.5 - Head coach of the year candidate Tyronn Lue has managed the roster well without stars George and Leonard, expect them to keep fighting as the playoffs near
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