Denver at Los Angeles

Both of these teams have gotten off to 0-1 starts, and will be hungry for their first win. The Clippers are supposed to be on the improve this season, but their 38-point loss to the Lakers showed the same ills of last year's team - lack of consistent scoring. Baron Davis is better served at the point when he isn't also a main option on offense, but he put up the second-most shots for the Clippers. The good news for the Nuggets is that they gave Utah all they could handle on the road as the Jazz are virtually unbeatable at home, and Denver did so without Carmelo Anthony. The Clippers may need some time to grow into a few new parts and find proper roles and that is difficult against a team with an offensive efficiency such as the Nuggets, who I will back here on the road. I also like the OVER here. Denver's best (only?) defensive player, Marcus Camby is gone. He is now on the Clippers, but he's got a bruised right heel and won't be playing in this one! Sure, Carmelo is out, but Denver has no lack of scorers or players who will hoist up shots in his absence. Under George Karl, the Nuggets are 97-67 OVER as a favorite. Denver and the OVER here.