Nuggets-Clippers Game 4 preview: Denver’s season is in jeopardy after blowout loss

The Denver Nuggets are in a hole in the Intuit Dome as they try and regroup after an embarrassing blowout loss in Game 3. The Nuggets held a first quarter lead in Thursday’s contest, but a 23-2 Clippers run in the first half blew the game open and never gave the Nuggets a chance of coming back.

The Clippers have done a phenomenal job defensively on the Nuggets through three games, as Denver has posted an offensive rating of 104.6 so far, the third-worst mark out of the 16 playoff teams. In the regular season, Denver had an offensive rating of 118.9, the fourth-best number in the association. Outside of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets have not gotten much production on the offensive end of the floor.

Meanwhile, the Clippers have four players averaging at least 15 points per game, and Kawhi Leonard looks like the guy who carried the Toronto Raptors to a championship in 2019. The Nuggets had no answers for the Clippers on both ends of the floor in Game 3, and interim head coach David Adelman will need to come up with a new gameplan quickly before another season of the Jokic era is wasted.

For an in-depth analysis of the series, click here.

How to watch Game 4 of Nuggets-Clippers

Game 2 will be broadcast on TNT and Altitude TV, with the opening tip scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Denver time. It will also be streamed on Altitude+.

Odds for Game 4 of Nuggets-Clippers

Spread/Total: Nuggets +6, 212.5

Moneyline: Nuggets +190, Clippers -230

Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double: -105

Game 3 flew under as the Nuggets were only able to muster up 83 points in the loss, making it the third straight game of the series that the under hit in. The Clippers have also covered the spread in all three games. Jokic put up another triple double in Game 3 despite the loss, the 20th of his postseason career (third all-time).

Projected starting lineups for Game 4 of Nuggets-Clippers

Nuggets
G: Jamal Murray
G: Christian Braun
F: **Michael Porter Jr.**
F: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic

Clippers
G: James Harden
G: Kris Dunn
G: Norman Powell
F: Kawhi Leonard
C: Ivica Zubac

**Porter is dealing with a shoulder sprain, and is currently listed as questionable. If he can’t go, Peyton Watson would likely start in his place**

Injury notes/report for Game 4 of Nuggets-Clippers

Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr. said that he was only playing at about 20-30% in Game 3 with the shoulder sprain he suffered earlier in the series but decided to give it a go. He did not look like himself as he shot just 2-for-9 in 35 minutes and lacked the physicality needed in playoff basketball. MPJ is questionable.

Russell Westbrook was dealing with foot inflammation after tweaking his foot in pregame warmups on Thursday. He played just nine minutes in Game 3 before having to call it a night because of the injury. He is also listed as questionable.

DaRon Holmes II is also listed on Denver’s injury report, as he is still rehabbing the Achilles tendon he tore back in the NBA Summer League.

Clippers
The Clippers injury report is clean heading into Game 3.

Referees for Game 4 of Nuggets-Clippers

Crew Chief: Zach Zarba
Referee: Sean Wright
Umpire: Nick Bucher
Alternate: Scott Twardoski
Replay Center: Ben Taylor, Justin Van Duyne

What to watch for in Game 4 of Nuggets-Clippers

Nikola Jokic has to take matters into his own hands for Denver to even the series up at two games apiece. His points per game and field goal attempts are down through three games compared to where they were in the regular season, which is exactly what Tyronn Lue and the Clippers want to see. Jokic has always been a pass-first player, but when the guys around him aren’t hitting their shots, his potential assists don’t mount to anything. Jokic has made 50% of his field goal attempts when guarded by Ivica Zubac through the first three games, the problem is how to get him open looks when there are other non-shooters surrounding the three-time MVP on the perimeter.