Preview of Nuggets vs. Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out & Russell Westbrook Faces Old Team – Who Will Secure the First Win of the Season?

Preview of Nuggets vs. Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out & Russell Westbrook Faces Old Team - Who Will Secure the First Win of the Season?

On October 27 at 5:00 AM, the NBA regular season continues with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Nuggets missed their opening game victory of the new season after losing to the Thunder. Last season, the Nuggets led the Western Conference for a while but ultimately fell short of defending their title. In five preseason games, the Nuggets managed only one win, raising concerns about their overall form. During the offseason, the Nuggets were somewhat constrained, with key players like Bones Hyland and Reggie Jackson leaving the team. However, they did add Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric. From the first game, it is clear that the Nuggets will face significant challenges in the new season. The 22nd pick from the draft, Dalon Holmes II, suffered a serious injury during the summer league and will miss the entire season. It remains to be seen whether Nikola Jokic can lead the team back to its previous form.

In the first game, the Nuggets lost 87-102 to the young Thunder at home. Despite having an advantage in rebounds, the Nuggets failed to convert this into a scoring edge. All five starters scored in double digits, but the bench performance was underwhelming. Jokic recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists, but Jamal Murray shot just 30% and scored 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Michael Porter Jr. also struggled, while Aaron Gordon contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds, and Bruce Brown added 16 points and 7 rebounds. Facing a Thunder team where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey both scored over 20 points, the Nuggets need to find their rhythm, especially Westbrook.

The Clippers, on the other hand, assembled multiple stars last season. To balance the ball distribution, Westbrook volunteered to come off the bench, but the arrival of James Harden did not significantly improve the team’s performance. Injuries have been a persistent issue for the Clippers. This summer, the Clippers re-signed Harden and Ivica Zubac, and made several roster changes, including adding Nicolas Batum, Derrick Jones Jr., Mo Bamba, Chris Dunn, Kevin Porter Jr., and Kai Jones. They also selected Cameron Christie in the draft. However, key players like Paul George and Westbrook left the team, joining the 76ers and Nuggets, respectively. Additionally, Mason Plumlee and Daniel Theis also departed. Overall, the Clippers’ roster strength has declined, but they remain competitive.

In five preseason games, the Clippers went 4-1, showing good form. However, in the first regular-season game, the Clippers lost 113-116 at home to the Suns, who are led by their three stars. Harden recorded a near-triple-double with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, but missed the crucial free throw that could have tied the game. The Clippers had a slight edge in rebounds, but the Suns’ Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan were in excellent form. Zubac played efficiently, scoring 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, but the Clippers still fell short by 3 points.

Recent head-to-head matchups between the two teams have been mixed. For tomorrow’s game, it is known that Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Tucker, and Mo Bamba will be out for the Clippers, while the Nuggets have no new injuries besides their rookie. With Westbrook facing his former team, who will secure the first win of the season? Let’s wait and see.

>>”>For more predictions and results of this game, click here>>>

Preview of Nuggets vs. Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out & Russell Westbrook Faces Old Team – Who Will Secure the First Win of the Season?. Author:Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced:https://www.sportsuefa.com/basketball-headlines/preview-of-nuggets-vs-clippers-kawhi-leonard-out-russell-westbrook-faces-old-team-who-will-secure-the-first-win-of-the-season.html

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