The Denver Nuggets kick off the second half of the regular season in Los Angeles as they face the new-look Clippers. The Clips traded James Harden at the deadline, while the Nuggets converted Spencer Jones to a 15-man contract so he is available for this contest. The Nuggets are getting healthier at just the right time, but it’s up to them to find their chemistry even without forwards Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson. With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray fresh off their All-Star Game appearance, can the Nuggets take a win from the Clippers as LA adjusts to life without James Harden, especially since Darius Garland will not play due to a toe issue? These are the sorts of wins the Nuggets need to lock down to get the best seed they can in April. Despite being on the edge of what is normally abysmal March basketball and the hiccups that come from the break, the run-up to the playoffs starts now – and it’s up to Denver to focus on getting right and stacking wins.

The Basics

Who: Denver Nuggets (35-20) at LA Clippers (26-28)

When: 8:30 PM MST

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood

How to watch/listen: Altitude TV / League Pass

Rival Blog: Clips Nation

Injury Report | Nuggets: Jalen Pickett—probable (knee soreness); Tamar Bates—out (foot); Aaron Gordon—out (hamstring); Peyton Watson—out (hamstring)

LA Clippers: Bradley Beal—out (hip fracture); Darius Garland—out (toe management)

The Three Things

The thing to watch for: Can the Nuggets improve as their health does? Denver has Spencer Jones signed to a 15-man deal (finally) and he’s recovered from his concussion. Neither Nikola Jokic nor Jamal Murray are listed on the injury report. Cam Johnson and Christian Braun are both back in the starting lineup and moving well. Denver’s defense will feel the absence of Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson certainly, but Denver should be as healthy as they have been in months. Will that pay off in their first outing after the long All-Star Break? Can they all come together and collectively shake the rust off, remind us all of who this team was to start the year? Or will it be a longer process? The Nuggets and Clippers know each other almost too well, but Los Angeles has moved James Harden and newcomers Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson may change the calculus a little. Maybe that spark of change will help the Nuggets show their best face on the road – where Denver has somehow been better this year anyway.

The thing to remember: Jokic wants to win. After catching some strays for his lower-energy performance in the All-Star Game, Nikola had a small sit-down interview with Malika Andrews for ESPN where he explained that he cares a lot about winning. Only a fool would think otherwise, but sometimes fools have to be reminded that yes, the best player in the world does actually burn with a fire to win. Denver has had a rocky season but they are still in third place in the Western Conference with all the battles in front of them to secure a high seed and prep for another title run. As the gates open on the second half of the season, all of Denver hopes that the Nuggets can fly out of the start but regardless, they will always go as far as Jokic can take them. If he is now mostly-healthy, then they can go all the way – and step one is winning the Western Conference games ahead of them. The Clippers are first on the list.

The thing to bet: Nuggets dub. It’s just nice to bet the dub after a week of no basketball. The players are rusty, the game will probably be awkward and betting statlines is incredibly tough, but Nuggets basketball is back and hopefully everybody gets to celebrate a victory and pocket a little cash.