MENU
The Portland Trail Blazers travel to Mile High to take on the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night.
The Blazers have been resurgent behind Damian Lillard’s historic scoring run. Portland has won five out of its last six games as Lillard has scored 293 points over the past six games and has tied an NBA record with 49 three-pointers made over a six-game period. Dame takes his act to Denver where the crippled Nuggets continue to win games despite playing without two starters and a pair of key reserves. The Nuggets won the first two meetings between these two teams this season.
Dame’s Historic Run
Damian Lillard has been on a historic run. Portland’s All-Star point guard is the first player in NBA history to average 47 points and 10 assists during a six-game period. Dame has scored at least 47 points in five of those games while putting up his first career triple-double in the other game. In his last game, Lillard put up 51 points as the Blazers won their fourth straight game against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
Lillard shot 9 three-pointers against Utah. It was his sixth consecutive game with at least six three-point baskets made. He’s also had three 50-point games during this period, including a career-high 61 against the Golden State Warriors. Dame has also posted four consecutive double-double performances as the Blazers make a run for a playoff spot.
Portland ranks 9th in the NBA in scoring at 113.5 points per game and they are 25th in scoring defense at 114.7 opponents points per game allowed. The Blazers are 8th in rebounding at 46.0 boards pulled down per contest but they are dead-last in passing at 20.0 assists per game.
Playing Without Two Starters
The Denver Nuggets continue to play without two of its starters as Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray continue to miss action due to injury. Denver is also without back-up big man Mason Plumlee but despite playing short-handed, the Nuggets have found ways to win games. Denver is 4-2 SU in their last six games played although they are coming off a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.
Denver played well to start that game, making 16 of their first 20 shots from the field. The Nuggets took an early 21-point lead but could not hold on to it as Detroit rallied and won the game in overtime. Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists but he could not carry the team on his shoulders. The Nuggets were playing their third game in four nights.
The Nuggets rank 19th in the league in scoring at 109.8 points per game. They are 18th overall in rebounding at 44.9 boards grabbed per contest and are also 3rd when it comes to passing at 26.3 assists per game. Denver has the 5th best scoring defense in the league this season at only 106.5 points per game allowed.
Who Wins?
Portland is 5-1 SU in their last six games played. The Blazers are 2-2 SU in their last four games played on the road, and 7-12 ATS in their last 19 road games against the Western Conference. Denver is 10-5 SU in their last 15 games played. The Nuggets are 2-1 SU in their last three home games played, and 11-3 SU in 14 home games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Nuggets are 4-2 SU in their last six games played against the Blazers. Denver is also 8-2 SU in their last 10 home games against Portland.
The Blazers are making their run at the Top 8. Portland has lost just once in their last six games played and they are now in 9th place in the Western Conference and are just four games below the .500 mark despite having an inconsistent season. If Lillard continues to play this well, Portland will be tough to beat.
Denver suffered another blow when rookie Michael Porter Jr. suffered an ankle injury in their last game. Although Porter is listed as day to day for this game, he joins Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap, and Mason Plumlee among the wounded Nuggets. Denver is coming off a loss to the Pistons where they blew an early 21 point lead.
Four of Portland’s win during this streak have been at home and their only road win came against an emotionally drained Lakers. The Blazers are just 10-16 SU on the road while Denver is 19-6 at home. However, Denver may be missing too many key players in this matchup and with Lillard on fire right now, the Nuggets could be in trouble.
Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers
Other Bets to Make
The Blazers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games played. Portland is 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games played on the road, and 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games against the Northwest Division. The Nuggets are 4-2 ATS in their last six games played. Denver is 4-1 ATS in their last five games played at home, and 2-4 ATS in their last six Tuesday games. Head to head, the Nuggets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Blazers.
Trail Blazers
+4.5 (-112)
Nuggets
-4.5 (-108)
Odds from BetOnline as of 02/04/20
The Blazers have won by at least eight points in each of their last four victories with three wins coming by double digits. The Nuggets won the first two meetings between these two teams and have dominated their head to head series but they are playing without two starters here. Rookie Michael Porter Jr., who has been averaging 14.4 points in his last 10 outings, is also listed as day to day with an ankle injury. I like Lillard to stay hot here and for Portland to cover the spread.
Prediction: Blazers +4.5
The total has gone over in seven out of the last eight games played by the Blazers. Portland has seen the total go over in three out of their last four games played. The over is 6-1 in Portland’s last seven games played against the Western Conference. The total has gone over in three out of the last five games played by the Nuggets. The over is 2-1 in Denver’s last three home games played. Head to head, the total has gone over in nine out of the last 13 games between these two teams.
Over
224.5 (-115)
Under
224.5 (-105)
Odds from BetOnline as of 02/04/20
Portland has gone over the 230 total in seven out of their last eight games played, including the last six. With the way Lillard has been scoring, you have to like the over. But the Nuggets are a Top 5 defense this season and they have given up an average of 105.4 points per game. In their last two games though, Denver has allowed 115 and 128 points. They have given up at least 110 points in six out of their last 10 games played. I like these teams to hit the over in another big game by Dame.
Prediction: Over 224.5
Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks 04/19/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction
New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers 04/17/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees 04/14/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans 04/12/2023 NBA Play-in Tournament Odds and Prediction
