Denver @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 12, 2020 ) L.A. Clippers 104, Denver 114

The Los Angeles Clippers can match the Denver Nuggets for the second-best record in the Western Conference when the teams battle in Los Angeles on Friday night. The Clippers have won back-to-back games after losing four of their previous five, while the Nuggets split their past four games.

Denver is one of five teams to reach the 40-win mark and put up a strong performance in Tuesday's 115-98 home victory over the Detroit Pistons. "I think sometimes you have to stop along the way and understand where you're are at and what you're accomplishing," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "[We're] only one of a few teams in the league that have 40 wins right now. So, I'm proud of our guys for getting these two home wins before going to L.A." The Clippers are in position to post their 40th victory after producing a 102-92 road win over the Phoenix Suns behind 24 points and 14 rebounds from All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard. "We're just trying to be on the same page right now," Leonard told reporters. "It's only been two games that we've won, so it's nothing too huge. We've got to keep going."

TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN, Altitude, Prime Ticket, Sportsnet One

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (40-18): Reserve power forward Jerami Grant exploded for a career-high 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting against Detroit for his fifth 20-point effort of the season. "We have a lot of talent on this team," Grant told reporters. "A lot of players who can put up numbers, 20 points-plus a game. You never know where it's going to come from on any given night." Forward Michael Porter Jr. also played well off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds to score in double digits for the 10th time in his past 13 appearances.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (39-19): Forward Marcus Morris scored 18 points - his most in six games since being acquired by the Clippers - and point guard Reggie Jackson tallied 12 points in 16 minutes in his third game with Los Angeles as the team showed off its new depth. "These are veteran guys who know how to play," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said after the win. "I don't know if it is what I envision, I just know they can play. I wasn't looking for anything heroic or anything like that. They're both going to win at least one playoff game each for us. You just know that. You know how the games are going to go." Their contributions against Phoenix were needed as forward Paul George had his fourth straight subpar game and is averaging just 8.3 points on 12-of-46 shooting during the stretch.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets won five of the past six meetings, including a 114-104 home win on Jan. 12.

2. Denver PG Jamal Murray is averaging 25.1 points and 6.1 assists in eight games this month.

3. Los Angeles G Lou Williams is averaging seven points over the past two games after averaging 29.5 over the previous two contests.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 107, Clippers 105