Magic Johnson Predicts Seven-Game Thriller For Nuggets-Clippers Series

NBA legend Magic Johnson has weighed in on the highly anticipated first-round Western Conference playoff matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, predicting a full seven-game series that could go either way. The Hall of Famer’s comments come as both teams prepare for their Saturday showdown at Ball Arena in Denver.

Johnson, widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in basketball history, expressed his excitement about the matchup on social media. “Basketball fans, buckle up for the West. The Nuggets vs. Clippers will be a 7-game thriller!” the Lakers icon declared, according to Sports Illustrated.

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Clippers’ Hot Streak Impresses Hall of Famer

While Johnson couldn’t definitively pick a winner in the evenly matched series, he acknowledged the Clippers’ impressive form heading into the playoffs. “I can’t pick a winner but I think the Clippers finished the season playing their best basketball!” Johnson noted.

The numbers support Johnson’s assessment. Los Angeles enters the playoffs riding an eight-game winning streak, culminating in an overtime thriller against the Golden State Warriors on the final day of the regular season. This victory secured the fifth seed for the Clippers, who have gone an exceptional 18-3 since early March.

Only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers managed to defeat the red-hot Clippers during this remarkable stretch, suggesting they might be peaking at the perfect time for a deep playoff run. This momentum could prove crucial against a Nuggets team dealing with recent organizational turmoil.

Denver’s Coaching Shake-Up Adds Intrigue

The fourth-seeded Nuggets enter the playoffs under unusual circumstances after the surprise dismissal of head coach Michael Malone with just three games remaining in the regular season. The firing came after a concerning four-game losing streak that threatened Denver’s playoff positioning.

Interim head coach David Adelman managed to right the ship, guiding the team to three consecutive victories over the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets. These timely wins allowed Denver to secure the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round, despite finishing with an identical 50-32 record as the Clippers.

The coaching change represents a significant gamble for the defending champions, particularly with the playoffs already underway. How the Nuggets players respond to this dramatic shift in leadership will be a fascinating subplot throughout the series.

Star Power Returns For Game One

Both teams will welcome back key players for the series opener. The Nuggets received positive news regarding their star duo, as both Nikola Jokic (ankle) and Jamal Murray (hamstring) have been removed from the injury report and are cleared to play in Game 1, according to CBS Sports.

For the Clippers, the return of Kawhi Leonard provides a significant boost. The two-time Finals MVP missed all four regular-season meetings between these teams, making his presence a potentially series-altering factor. Leonard’s playoff experience and championship pedigree give Los Angeles an additional weapon they lacked in previous matchups with Denver.

Source: https://www.nba.com/news/2025-nba-playoffs-standings-and-bracket-updates

Betting Markets Expect Tight Contest

Oddsmakers appear to share Johnson’s view that this series will be closely contested. The Nuggets enter Game 1 as slim 2.5-point favorites, despite having home-court advantage and being the defending champions.

The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates each game 10,000 times, actually favors the Clippers to win the opener with a projected final score of 115-114. The model gives Los Angeles a 54% chance to cover the spread, suggesting the betting markets might be slightly undervaluing the Clippers’ current form.

With both teams evenly matched on paper and the regular season series split at two wins apiece, Magic Johnson’s prediction of a seven-game thriller seems increasingly plausible. Basketball fans can expect a competitive, high-scoring series between two Western Conference heavyweights with legitimate championship aspirations.

Game 1 tips off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, beginning what could be one of the most entertaining first-round matchups in recent playoff history.

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