Free NBA Pick: Blazers vs. Nuggets NBA Odds
Looking for Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets free NBA picks & NBA Odds? NBA betting sees the Blazers taking on the Nuggets on Friday, December 23rd, at Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Blazers-Nuggets matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(17-15) Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets (19-11)
Date: Friday, December 23rd
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Venue: Ball Arena Denver, Colorado
NBA Moneyline Odds: Blazers +150 | Nuggets -188 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Nuggets -4.5
NBA Betting Total: 234.5
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Friday, December 23rd, the Portland Trail Blazers play the Denver Nuggets in the third of four scheduled meetings. The teams split the two prior matches with Portland winning 135-110 on October 24th and Denver winning 121-120 on December 8th.
The final meeting will be hosted by Denver on January 17th.
The Blazers arrive having been swept by the Thunder in their baseball set with losses on Monday (121-123) and Wednesday (98-101) while the Nuggets pummeled the Grizzlies 91-105 on Tuesday, to maintain their top seed in the West.
Last season, the teams played four times with the Nuggets winning three of the four contests. The Blazers hold the all-time record having bested the Nuggets in 102 of their 193 matches.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and rankings are current as of this writing, Thursday evening, December 22nd. Numbers may vary slightly entering games on Friday, December 23rd.
Portland Trail Blazers
It’s been a tough road trip for the Blazers who need to win this game to salvage a split of the six-game trip. Portland probably thought they could sweep the Thunder and ended up on the losing end of that equation.
The trip wasn’t a complete loss with Damian Lillard making history by surpassing Clyde Drexler to become the all-time leading scorer in Trail Blazers history but clearly, he hoped to achieve that marker in a winning effort.
The other big news was head coach, Chauncey Billups is part of the first ballot names under consideration for this year’s Hall of Fame induction.
Lillard is averaging 27.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game shooting 44.8% from the field, 39.3% from deep and 89.8% from the stripe taking 18.7, 11.2, and 7.4 attempted shots from these areas respectively.
Portland averages 112.1 points per game ranking 18th while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.9% from the perimeter ranking ninth and first respectively.
On defense, the Blazers allow 111.7 opponent points who shoot 47.3% from the field and 35.7% from the perimeter ranking 12th, 19th, and 14th respectively.
Gary Payton II (conditioning), and Nassir Little (hip) are questionable for Friday.
Denver Nuggets
While Aaron Gordon collected the high point tally for Denver on Tuesday, it was Nikola Jokic who got the better of fellow MVP candidate Ja Morant. His line was sort of freaky as he posted a triple-double of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists as well as a plus +13 on the night.
Jokic is averaging a double-double of 24.7 points and 11.0 rebounds (2.2 offensive boards) as well as 9.2 assists and 1.5 steals.
He’s taking 15.0 shots and connecting at 61.7 percent efficiency from the field shooting 321.8 percent from the perimeter on 2.5 attempts and getting to the line 6.8 times per match connecting with 79.8 percent efficiency.
Denver ranks seventh in scoring averaging 115.4 points per game and second in proficiency both from the field: 50.3% and perimeter: 38.7%.
There is ample work to do defensively, and for as bad as the numbers look they are improving as their win versus the Grizzlies demonstrated.
On the season, Denver ranks 17th for opponent scoring allowing 114.0 points per game, while foes shoot 48.7% from the field and 36.4% from the perimeter ranking 28th and 21st overall.
Jeff Green (back) is probable while Jamal Murray (ankle) and Michael Porter Jr. (heel) are questionable for Friday. Collin Gillespie (leg fracture) is out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Blazers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
- The Nuggets are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games.
- The Blazers are 4-8 SU in their last 12 games on the road.
- The Nuggets are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at home.
Free Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets NBA Prediction:
For frequent readers of my previews, you’ll know I picked the Nuggets to be sitting atop the West and projected they would climb past the Pelicans and Grizzlies by Christmas.
They’ve already accomplished that feat but are tied with Memphis and both are part of the holiday slate although the Grizzlies arguably have the easier match considering they face the Warriors without Steph Curry (and probably Andrew Wiggins).
Denver will host the Suns who are dealing with their own adversity.
Following the win Tuesday, Jokic’s response to how he arrived at the arena (in a very dapper suit) was he dresses like that because this is a job and he wants people to know he means business!
I’ve been super high on this Nuggets team all season, but it’s responses like that and performances like Tuesday that have me doubling down on this team who still haven’t been fully healthy but seem to be ramping up their defensive intensity.
The problem is Denver still has a tendency to lose focus (or interest?), and while I expect them to win I think they might save their big game for Sunday night so I’ll take the points.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Blazers +4.5
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