Coming into the NBA Playoffs, many in the NBA betting community had this series in the Western Conference circled. After the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers split the first two games, it appears this battle will live up to the billing. Thursday night sees the Northwest Division rivals lock horns in a pivotal Game 3. The Trail Blazers will look to maintain control of home-court advantage, with the action shifting to Portland. This NBA betting preview for the Nuggets vs Trail Blazers NBA Playoffs matchup will provide game info, betting trends, odds and a prediction for Game 3 of this series.
Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers Game Info | NBA Playoffs
NBA Western Conference Quarterfinals NBA Playoffs Game 3 (Series tied 1-1)
Denver Nuggets (48-26, 22-14 Away) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (43-31, 20-16 Home)
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021
Start Time: 10:30 p.m. EST
Venue: Moda Center — Portland, OR
This NBA Playoffs series started off in an eerily similar fashion for the Nuggets. After digging themselves an immediate hole by dropping Game 1, Denver was at least able to salvage a 1-1 tie ahead of the action shifting to the Pacific Northwest. They couldn’t have done so without their superstar, Nikola Jokic. The NBA betting favorite to take home the 2020-21 MVP Award, Jokic dropped 38 points in Game 2 to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. With running mate Jamal Murray lost for the season, the Nuggets figure to go only as far as Joker will carry them this postseason. Michael Porter Jr. stepped up alongside him on Monday, with 18 points, while Paul Millsap played about as efficiently as possible off the bench. He finished with 15 points, seven boards and three assists in just 15 minutes of action.
After getting a collective team effort in their Game 1 victory, the Trail Blazers were overly reliant on their backcourt stars on Monday. Although Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum both played exceptional basketball, the two can only do so much. Lillard finished with 42 points and 10 assists while McCollum had 21 to go with six rebounds. Besides them, only Norman Powell even cracked double figures scoring in Game 2. Portland will need center Jusuf Nurkic and forwards Robert Covington and Carmelo Anthony to play a whole lot better going forward if they are to advance as a 6-seed. The Nuggets may be shorthanded, but they won’t go down easily.
Nuggets vs Trail Blazers NBA Betting Odds
Moneyline: DEN: (+150) | POR: (-185)
Spread: DEN: +4 (-110) | POR: -4 (-110)
Total: 227.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Betting Trends
- Nuggets are 0-4 against the spread (ATS) in their last four road games against teams with a winning record at home.
- Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following an ATS loss.
- Trail Blazers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games as an NBA betting favorite.
- Under is 6-1 in the Nuggets’ last seven Thursday games.
- Under is 5-0 in the Trail Blazers’ last five games after allowing 125 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in the last eight Nuggets vs Trail Blazers head-to-head matchups played in Portland.
Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Prediction
This NBA prediction uses NumberFire’s probability model. They give Denver a 50.5% chance to win Game 3 of this NBA Playoffs matchup.
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