Nuggets vs. Clippers Monday NBA injury report, odds: Spread jumps 3 points with Nikola Jokic questionable, Aaron Gordon out

The NBA is cracking down on teams resting star players this season, but you can still spot an obvious game where one might sit out. Case in point: Monday night's outing for the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is listed as questionable in the second game of a back-to-back. The Nuggets also remain without starters Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray. The Jokic news that has jumped the Clippers at home from -4.5 to -7.5 on the SportsLine consensus.

Jokic is dealing with some lower back pain and was listed probable for Sunday's 132-120 win over San Antonio. He played very well with 39 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and one steal in 34 minutes. It was Jokic's third consecutive game with at least 30 points. It marked the 20th time in his career he's finished back-to-back games with at least 30 and the second time he'd done so this season. Jokic is set at over/under 30.5 vs. Los Angeles. He is the only player in NBA history with 475+ points, 225+ rebounds, and 150+ assists through the first 17 games of a season.

Because this is a one-game road trip with Denver back home Wednesday vs. Houston, I expect Jokic to sit. Denver was 5-8 without him last season, but Jokic hasn't missed a game yet this year.

Gordon sat Sunday with a right heel strain and Justin Holiday made his first start of the season in his place. Holiday had just five points in 27 minutes. Murray has been out since Nov. 4 due to a hamstring injury and is getting close but will not return Monday. Denver and Boston are the only two teams unbeaten at home. The Nuggets are just 3-6 away.

The Clippers have won four of five since a six-game losing streak that coincided with James Harden's arrival.  They spanked a good Dallas team 107-88 on Saturday even though Harden had just eight points and seven assists, while Kawhi Leonard missed his first nine shots before finishing with eight points. Dallas missed 13 straight shots while going scoreless for more than 5 1/2 minutes in the third quarter, allowing the Clippers to pull ahead by 24.

Los Angeles is 5-2 at home and second in the NBA at home in steals (9.7), fourth in plus/minus differential (11.3) and 10th in rebounds (45.9).

But L.A. has lost seven in a row to Denver, including two straight at home. The lone meeting thus far was a 111-108 Nuggets home win on Nov. 14 in In-Season Tournament play. Monday's game is not a tournament game – the final group stage night is Tuesday. Denver was one of the favorites to win the event but will not advance. Neither will the Clippers. 

Get more out of your SportsLine subscription! 

• Picks: NFL | NBA | CFB | CBB
• DFS: Lineup Optimizer | Picks
• Early Edge: YouTube | Apple Podcasts
• Newsletters: SportsLine Daily | Fantasy

Qualifying SportsLine members receive a 30-day free trial of Paramount+ premium. Sync your account right here.