Los Angeles is buzzing as the Clippers and Denver Nuggets gear up for a pivotal Game 3 in their 2025 NBA playoff first-round series. The series, knotted at 1-1, shifts to the Intuit Dome on April 25 for a 7:00 PM PST tip-off. After a nail-biter in Game 1 and a gritty Clippers comeback in Game 2, this matchup promises another chapter in a slugfest between two Western Conference heavyweights.
The Nuggets, seeded fourth, edged out a 112-110 overtime thriller in Game 1 on April 19 in Denver. Nikola Jokić, the reigning MVP, was a force, though exact stats from that game are tough to pin down without digging into the box score. The Clippers, however, flipped the script on April 21. Kawhi Leonard erupted for 39 points, sinking 15 of 19 shots, including four triples, to lead Los Angeles to a 105-102 road win. James Harden chipped in 18 points, showing the Clippers’ star power can match Denver’s depth.
Betting lines for Game 3 show the Clippers as favorites. The spread sits at Clippers -4.5, with moneyline odds at -222 for Los Angeles and +168 for Denver. The over/under for total points is set at 224.0, a nod to the offensive firepower on both sides. These numbers come from major sportsbooks, reflecting heavy action on the Clippers to hold serve at home. Some betting models, running thousands of simulations, project a close contest but lean toward Los Angeles covering the spread, with a predicted score of Clippers 108, Nuggets 103. These models, built on years of NBA data, have been profitable for bettors, though past performance doesn’t guarantee future wins.
The series schedule, confirmed on April 16, has Game 3 locked in for April 24, though the game actually tips on April 25 due to a scheduling quirk. Game 4 follows on April 26 at 3:00 PM PST, with potential Games 5, 6, and 7 slated for April 29, May 1, and May 3, respectively, if the series extends. The Intuit Dome, the Clippers’ new home, will host Games 3 and 4, giving Los Angeles a chance to seize control before the series swings back to Denver.
Both teams are healthy, with no major injuries reported. The Clippers’ Game 2 win stole home-court advantage, but Denver’s championship pedigree—forged in their 2023 title run—makes them a dangerous underdog. The matchup hinges on star power: Leonard and Harden for the Clippers, Jokić and Jamal Murray for the Nuggets. Role players like Paul George and Aaron Gordon could tilt the scales in a game expected to stay tight into the fourth quarter.
Game 3 airs on NBA TV at 10:00 PM ET. The Clippers lead the series 1-1. The game is at Intuit Dome, Los Angeles.