Denver @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 27, 2018 ) L.A. Clippers 122, Denver 120

The Los Angeles Clippers are mathematically still alive in the race for a Western Conference playoff spot, but they'll need to win and get plenty of help over the final five days of the regular season. The Denver Nuggets, who visit the Clippers on Saturday, are closer to a playoff spot but are locked in a group of six teams fighting for five spots entering play on Friday.

The Nuggets are charging ahead with wins in four straight games and beat one of the teams in front of them, the Minnesota Timberwolves, 100-96 on Thursday. "Every game is big," reserve center Mason Plumlee told the team's website following the latest triumph. "There are only so many left. We knew this was a big one coming in. As big as this one is, we have to forget about it just as quickly and go to L.A. and get another one." The Clippers are not playing as well of late and dropped three of the last four, including a 117-95 setback at Utah on Thursday that dropped them two games behind the Nuggets with three to play. "We try to win the three and see if we can get help," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "That can happen. We play the teams in front of us, but we're going to need a lot of help."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, Altitude (Denver), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (44-35): Denver's last four wins came by an average of 2.8 points, and the team is learning how to play through mistakes. "We're not folding," swingman Will Barton told the Denver Post. "Good play. Bad play. Guys just come together and we stand in it together. There's just a lot of togetherness right now, and I love it." The Nuggets are being led by center Nikola Jokic, who struggled to 6-of-20 from the floor on Thursday but finished an assist shy of a triple-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (42-37): Los Angeles went into a virtual must-win in Utah on Thursday and allowed the Jazz to shoot 53 percent from the floor. "It was the first game I thought we let go of the rope," Rivers told reporters. "Like, you could see it early. It was disappointing. It happens. It's life. We have to get over it. I have to watch the film. That was disappointing tonight." The Clippers went 3-of-17 from 3-point range in the loss as leading scorer Lou Williams was held to 3-of-12 from the floor and totaled 12 points with three assists and four turnovers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Danilo Gallinari (hand) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.

2. Nuggets reserve PG Devin Harris scored 20 points on Thursday, doubling his total from the previous two games.

3. Los Angeles took the first two meetings this season by an average of 3.5 points.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 109, Clippers 101