Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Starting Lineups and Depth Charts for April 4 | 2023-24 NBA Season

The Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers round off their season series at Crypto.com Arena. The Nuggets lead the series 2-1, but the Clippers won the previous matchup 111-102 on Dec. 6, 2023. However, LA was in its best stretch back then and is struggling now. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are as consistent as ever.

The Clippers enter Thursday's contest with a 10-8 record since March. They haven't been able to put a decent stretch together. The Clippers are coming off a 109-95 loss in Kawhi Leonard's absence. He's going to miss Thursday's contest, too.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets have gone 12-4 since March and are coming off back-to-back wins. They enter the matchup against the Clippers as the favorites.

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Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Injury Reports for Apr. 4

Denver Nuggets injury report

The Nuggets will remain without Vlatko Cancar (knee), while Zeke Nnaji (adductor) is expected to be out despite a doubtful status. Aaron Gordon (foot) and Nikola Jokic (hip/wrist) are probable and likely to play. Jamal Murray (ankle) is questionable. He will be a game-time decision.

Update: Murray is ruled out.

LA Clippers injury report

The Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard (knee) and Joshua Prime (ankle).

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Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Starting Lineups and Depth Charts for Apr. 4

Denver Nuggets starting lineup

The Nuggets will start Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, while Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic will complete the frontline.

Point guards	Reggie Jackson	Collin Gillespie
Shooting guards	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	Christian Braun	Julian Strawther
Small forwards	Michael Porter Jr.	Justin Holiday
Power forwards	Aaron Gordon	Peyton Watson	Braxton Key
Centers	Nikola Jokic	DeAndre Jordan	Jay Huff

LA Clippers starting lineup

The Clippers will start James Harden at point guard, Terance Mann was at the two, while PJ Tucker, Paul George and Ivica Zubac completed the frontline.

Point guards	James Harden	Russell Westbrook	Bones Hyland
Shooting guards	Terance Mann	Brandon Boston Jr.	Xavier Moon
Small forwards	PJ Tucker	Norman Powell
Power forwards	Paul George	Amir Coffey	Kobe Brown
Centers	Ivica Zubac	Mason Plumlee	Daniel Theis

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Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers key matchups

Clippers coach Ty Lue is known for creating matchup advantages against the opposing teams. With Kawhi Leonard out, he will lean on that on both ends. One of the key matchups would be Ivica Zubac on Nikola Jokic defensively.

The Clippers could let Zubac battle Jokic down low one-on-one, as he did a decent job on the two-time MVP in the previous matchup. That allowed the Clippers to guard the other four players better.

Another matchup the Clippers could take advantage of is Paul George vs. Jamal Murray or Reggie Jackson. Murray and Jackson would be among the weaker defenders on the Nuggets on the perimeter. With his size advantage, George could make them his primary targets and get going in Leonard's absence.