Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets preview: NBA Sundays

This Sunday’s game sees the Los Angeles Clippers host the Denver Nuggets at the Staples Center, in what will be an exciting match-up between two Western Conference teams who have enjoyed contrasting fortunes so far this season. Whilst the Clippers look set to qualify for the NBA Playoffs, the Nuggets find themselves down in 10th position with Sunday representing a must-win game if they are to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

(Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers have recently completed a five-game road trip, which saw them victorious on only one occasion against the Houston Rockets. The Clippers lost the other four games with resounding defeats against the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors. This rocky moment comes after the Clippers have proven themselves capable of beating almost any opponent, even without their top scorer Blake Griffin. The Clippers have lost 8 out of 10 games against the top three teams in the Western Conference. Their whole season has been characterised by a continuous chase for a spot in the top three of the Western Conference, but they will do well to catch the three superpowers in the West – the Golden State Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Player to Watch: Chris Paul – The 30-year old has once again been incredibly consistent this season, averaging 20 points and almost 10 assists on a nightly basis. What is most striking about the nine-time NBA All-Star is his ability to change speed, which enables him to beat almost any defender one-on-one and to penetrate into the paint to get the easy two-point basket. Besides being an excellent player on offense, Paul is also a solid defender, whose intelligence on the court and explosive athleticism make up for his relative lack of height.

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have endured a fluctuating season so far with some standout performances earning victories over top teams including the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors, followed by lengthy losing streaks. Up to the end of January, Denver was in the running for an NBA Playoffs spot, with only a few games separating them from 8th place. However, in their current state, qualifying for the playoffs would represent an incredible feat for the Nuggets. It does not all come down to the team’s performances though. The Nuggets have been tormented by a litany of injuries, including the season-ending injury suffered by Denver’s top scorer,Danilo Gallinari.

Player to Watch: Emmanuel Mudiay – The 20-year old is one of the youngest players in the league, but nevertheless he stands out for his athleticism, vision and speed. He is the Nuggets’ top passer, dishing out more than five assists per game, and he is also one of the team’s top scorers. His performances on the court are one of the reasons why Denver can still hope to make it to the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets have pinned their playoff hopes on him and he will certainly want to live up to his team’s expectations.

Who wins? Tweet your prediction using #NBASUNDAYS

NBA Sundays on BT Sport – a live NBA game every Sunday at 8.30pm. This week on 27 March the Los Angeles Clippers will host the Denver Nuggets on BT Sport 1.