2020 NBA Playoffs: Nuggets vs. Clippers, Celtics vs. Raptors odds, picks & predictions (Sept 11)

It’s closeout time on Friday as the Los Angeles Clippers look to deliver the deathblow to the resilient Denver Nuggets, and the defending champion Toronto Raptors play in a do-or-die Game 7 against the Boston Celtics.

BetAmerica has the picks for Friday’s NBA action.

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers

One of the most entertaining surprises of the playoffs has been the perseverance of the Nuggets. This team came down from a 3-1 deficit in the first round to beat the Utah Jazz, and they have consistently fought against the tide against the Clippers. The question is, can they do it again?

Powered by Kawhi Leonard’s near triple-double and a strong defensive performance by Paul George, the Clippers hammered the Nuggets to take a 3-1 series lead on Wednesday night. No matter what adjustments the Nuggets made, the Clippers were simply too much for them to handle.

The Nuggets are going to need a true team effort tonight as Nikola Jokic can’t do it on his own. He’ll need huge performances from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to extend this series another game.

The Nuggets thus far have not found a way to circumvent the Clippers’ defense once L.A. makes its second-half adjustments. Denver might also be drained after making several ferocious comebacks in Game 4 to avoid a 20-point blowout loss. The Nuggets are a tough team, but they don’t have enough gas left in the tank to go four hard quarters with the Clippers.

NBA pick: Clippers -8

---

Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors simply won’t die. It took two overtimes in a thrilling Game 6 and an incredible performance from Kyle Lowry to force a Game 7, and suddenly Boston is the team scrambling and looking for answers.

Boston should not have lost Game 6, but the Celtics once again got outplayed by the Raptor’s small line up and couldn’t put the game away. Kemba Walker continues to struggle, and Jaylen Brown needed 30 shots to score 31 points. This Raptors team had to survive a Game 7 last year on their way to the NBA Finals, and that could be the difference in this one.

It’s possible that Lowry might be exhausted after his efforts, but the Celtics are just as worn and ragged. Ultimately, this is going to be a display of two drained teams, and this type of game favors the Raptors. Expect Toronto to make good on their promise to win this series, scrapping by with the narrowest of margins to proceed to the Eastern Conference Finals.

NBA pick: Raptors moneyline