The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers face off Thursday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, with both teams navigating key absences.
Denver will be without Tamar Bates (left foot surgery), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), and Peyton Watson is listed as probable with right knee soreness. Curtis Jones remains in the G League, while Jalen Pickett is expected to play.
Los Angeles is missing Bradley Beal (left hip fracture) and Darius Garland (left toe injury management). TyTy Washington Jr. is also in the G League and will not participate.
The Clippers enter the matchup after a 105-102 win over the Houston Rockets on February 11, following a loss in the previous game.
The Nuggets’ lineup has relied heavily on Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic this season. Murray averages 25.7 points and 7.6 assists per game, shooting 42.5% from three-point range, while Jokic leads the team with 28.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per contest, posting a .654 shooting percentage on two-pointers.
Denver has won both prior meetings this season, including a 130-116 victory in November and a 122-109 win in late January.
For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard continues to carry the scoring load with 27.9 points per game, adding 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while John Collins contributes 13.8 points per contest.
Los Angeles sits just outside playoff contention in the Western Conference with a 26-28 record, trailing the Nuggets, who are 35-20.
