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 Monday, May 24th, 2021, at the Ball Arena. 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.
2021 NBA Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(1-0) Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets (0-1)
Date: Monday, May 24th
Time: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver Colorado
NBA Moneyline Odds: Blazers +110 | Nuggets +118
NBA Betting Odds: Nuggets -1.5
NBA Betting Total: 227
Monday, May 24th the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets play their second game in the best of seven first-round series. The Blazers won the opening match 123-109 in a match that was far closer than the final score indicates.
This series could end up being the most fun and competitive of the opening round of the playoffs. Game 1 offered a back and forth
The Blazers hold the all-time record having won 100 matches of the 187 played. In the three matches played this season the Nuggets possess the edge having won two of the contests.
Portland and Denver have met three times in past postseason play with the Blazers winning two of the three series. The last time the teams met was the 2019 semi-finals that were pushed to seven games with the Blazers prevailing.
Portland Trail Blazers
While the game one score makes it seem like this was an easy win for the Blazers it wasn’t. Portland won a few key categories and that ended up being the difference in the match.
Specifically, they shot 19 free throws while the Nuggets only got eight attempts and they feasted from the perimeter connecting on 19 of 40 attempts.
Defensively, the Blazers double-teamed Nikola Jokic and focused on the passing lanes which limited the MVP candidate to a single assist. It’s unlikely any of those situations will occur again.
Six Blazers scored in double-figures with Damian Lillard leading the way via a double-double of 34 points and 13 assists. Carmelo Anthony won for the first time in Denver since demanding a trade from the organization. Melo heard plenty of boos but used that as inspiration to score 18 points.
Jusuf Nurkic who was traded to make room for Nikola Jokic to have a larger role was huge in game one posting a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds plus five assists.
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture rehabilitation) is out.
Denver Nuggets
As noted this was far from a typical game from Nikola Jokic as he collected a season-low one assist. That didn’t stop him from being the best Nuggets player on the court as he collected a double-double of 34 points and 16 rebounds.
While Michael Porter Jr. offered 25 points and nine rebounds he couldn’t hit from deep shooting 1 of 10 from the perimeter. In fact, most of the Nuggets struggled from deep shooting 11 of 36 or 30.6 percent.
Aaron Gordon offered 16 points with eight rebounds while the diminutive Facundo Campazzo proved to be a pest for the Blazers as he checked off several stat categories and took over much of the ball-handling given the Blazers persistence in double-teaming Jokic.
Campazzo registered eight points, three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. Monte Morris is still getting his rhythm back adding 10 points and could become a bigger factor as the series progresses.
Will Barton (right hamstring strain), PJ Dozier (right adductor strain) remain out with Jamal Murray (torn ACL) lost for the season.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The teams are 5-5 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The Blazers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 head to head meetings
- Over/Under is 5-5 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
Free Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets NBA Prediction:
Denver needs to be more aggressive at getting to the line in Game 2 and no doubt Michael Malone will have his players moving more so Joker has targets to hit cutting to the basket or in motion as a secondary playmaker.
The Nuggets are already in a situation where they must win since they are at home. This isn’t the same team who came back from 1-3 twice last season because Murray isn’t available.
Nuggets get the win with Jokic dishing dimes and Porter Jr. connecting on more than one 3-pointer.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Nuggets ATS
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