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NBA Playoffs: Clippers vs. Nuggets player stats from 4/19/25

NBA Playoffs: Clippers vs. Nuggets player stats from 4/19/25

NBA DraftKings Network DraftKings Sportsbook Insights

Published:

By: Sean Barnard

Game 1 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets lived up to the hype and then some. Denver was able to deliver the knockout punch and secure the 112-110 victory in overtime in a game that was up for grabs for seemingly forever. This is what NBA playoff basketball is about.

Playing on the road in Denver, the Clippers got off to a strong start, pushing their first-half lead to as high as 15. James Harden got things going early, exploding for 15 points in the first quarter and setting the tone for the team.

The former MVP finished with 32 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. He shot 11-for-22 from the field and 4-for-9 from beyond the three-point arc.

Kawhi Leonard’s return to full health and improved level of play has been one of the bigger storylines in the second half of the season. But the two-time Finals MVP failed to fully assert himself throughout the matchup and left plenty to be desired from an impact standpoint. In his 41 minutes of play, Leonard finished with 22 points, six rebounds, and two assists, attempting 15 total shots. He attempted just one shot in overtime.

All five Clippers starters finished in double figures. Ivica Zubac had a strong start against Nikola Jokic before the three-time MVP settled in. Zubac finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds of his own while Norman Powell pitched in 12 points.

As is always the case when talking about the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic was at the epicenter of the production. The seven-time All-Star finished with 29 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds, falling just shy of his 19th postseason triple-double.

Jamal Murray was visibly bothered by the strong defense of Kris Dunn throughout a great deal of this matchup. But the Nuggets guard was able to break free for 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists despite shooting 7-for-20 from the field. Aaron Gordon also stepped up in a major way, adding 25 points and eight rebounds. It was a tough night for Michael Porter Jr., who failed to look comfortable throughout and was limited to just three total points in 26 minutes of action.

The biggest story surrounding the Nuggets was the roller coaster that is Russell Westbrook. There is never a question of his effort level, but when looking at the highs and lows for his impact, there is no clearer example than this game.

Overall, the former MVP finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Westbrook finished as a +7 in the victory.

The biggest shot of the game came out of the hands of Westbrook. With 33.1 seconds remaining and Denver trailing by one, Jokic found the open Westbrook in the corner, who delivered with a huge shot.

The Clippers were not done yet, with James Harden tying up the game on a floater with 18.1 seconds to go.

Then the Russell Westbrook roller coaster took a turn with him receiving an opportunity to finish the game in regulation. After a failed two-man action with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Westbrook was left with an open three and a chance to win. He ended up not even attempting a shot, and some free basketball took place.

In the overtime period, the Nuggets outscored the Clippers 14-12, although a late three-pointer from Norman Powell with less than a second on the clock made the score closer than the game was. Westbrook redeemed himself in the overtime period, forcing a turnover with 10.9 seconds on the clock.

There is never a question of the effort of Westrbook, but you live with the good and the bad that comes with him. It was enough to get the victory tonight, and this is a game that the Clippers have to feel disappointed in losing.

While the game was decided before this, it was this shot from Norman Powell that changed the outlook for many DraftKings users out there.

Looking at the DraftKings odds, the spread closed at two points in favor of the Nuggets. With the final score finishing 112-110, it ends as a push for backers of both sides. Thanks to the overtime period, the game went over the 218.5 total.

This game also made a notable shift in the series’ outlook. Before the opening gamem both teams held -110 odds of winning this series on DraftKings Sportsbook, with this looked at as a true toss-up. With Denver taking the opening game win and taking a 1-0 series lead, they have climbed to -180 favorites while the Clippers hold +150 odds of advancing. The odds of the series going over 5.5 games have also now increased to -220.

These teams will be back in action on Monday for the second matchup taking place in Denver. The Nuggets enter as two-point favorites and -130 on the Moneyline for this matchup while the Clippers hold +110 odds of getting the win. The over/under is set at 218.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook with this game set to tip off at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Sean Barnard

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.