Nuggets vs Path Blazers Picks and Odds

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are in Portland to play the Path Blazers. (Picture by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

• Denver Nuggets head to Portland in search of fourth win in a row
• Path Blazers enjoying second half of back-to-back after loss to Clippers Tuesday
• Get the newest Nuggets vs Path Blazers odds, betting preview and a decide beneath

The Portland Path Blazers are in a tough patch. They’re with out Damian Lillard, and face the daunting process of salvaging the tail finish of a back-to-back towards fiery-hot Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

After dropping Tuesday night time’s robust 113-112 contest to the Clippers, they’re uncomfortably near falling out of a locked-in playoff spot and into the play-in.

Denver, in the meantime, has discovered its footing minus Jamal Murray, reeling off three wins in a row. They’re a 5-point street favourite on this one.

Nuggets vs Path Blazers Odds

Odds as of April 20. Tip-off is Wednesday at 10pm ET

Nikola is Good

Whereas there are nonetheless considerations about how Denver will fare within the playoffs with out Jamal Murray, for now, they’re in nice arms with Nikola Jokic. It’s exhausting to headline when Steph Curry goes supernova, however the large man put in one other MVP-worthy efficiency in a double-OT win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jokic (47 PTS, 15 REB, 8 AST) had himself an evening ♨️ pic.twitter.com/SB9jdeojFN

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 20, 2021

Jokic completed with 47 factors, 15 rebounds and eight assists, carrying his membership with clutch buckets in successful time. Denver additionally obtained large contributions from Will Barton, who dropped a season-high 28 factors, together with seven assists, six rebounds, and 5 hits from downtown.

Michael Porter Jr, who’s rising as a budding star and key part to this group, chipped in with 21.

I assumed Michael Porter Jr. had one in every of his finest defensive video games of the season within the #Nuggets win final night time — particularly in rotation. He was attentive and on-time in assist defensive ideas, and held up in some on-ball conditions as nicely. This can be a mashup of what I noticed. pic.twitter.com/R8xppJT12v

— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) April 15, 2021

The method towards the Blazers Wednesday is easy: bend their protection and get to the ring. Even with a dominant large, Denver doesn’t stay within the painted space (who does as of late?), however they’re environment friendly on the tin, with the third-best capturing share in that space at 67.8%.

Portland’s protection is among the many worst in basketball, and particularly inside, the place they permit the fourth-highest frequency of photographs from 4 toes. A wise and explosive group just like the Nuggets, who rank third in offensive effectivity and fourth in scoring, ought to hammer at that weak point.

Misplaced With out Lillard

Nonetheless bothered by a sore proper hamstring, Damian Lillard might miss his fourth straight recreation Wednesday. At 32-25, Portland sits in sixth with the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies on their tails within the West. They’ve been on a 3-7 slide of their final 10.

Damian Lillard (proper hamstring, tendinopathy), who will sit out for his third straight recreation, getting photographs up forward of Tuesday’s Blazers-Clippers recreation.

Coach Stotts says there’s no replace on Lillard’s hamstring pic.twitter.com/PT6YqWAlRY

— Jamie Hudson (@JamieHudsonNBCS) April 21, 2021

The evident situation with Portland is the defensive aspect, the place they carry second-worst ranking within the league forward of solely the lowly Sacramento Kings — and that’s with Lillard within the lineup.

The Blazers do boast the sixth-best offensive ranking within the NBA, seemingly outscoring their issues. However the final three video games with out Dame Time, they’ve cracked 110 factors simply as soon as. That’s bother when surrendering 114.7 an evening — which ranks twenty fifth within the NBA.

👏 @CJMcCollum (29 PTS, 6 AST) and the @trailblazers outlast San Antonio on the street! #RipCity pic.twitter.com/mvuGC50BVI

— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2021

Jusuf Nurkic, who missed Tuesday’s recreation towards the Clippers for relaxation, can be within the lineup to battle his ex-teammate Jokic, whereas the Blazers will depend on CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony to hold the load. CJ went for 28 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists towards LA, whereas  Anthony had 18 off the bench, together with three 3-pointers.

Norm Powell has been a pleasant addition to the roster. The ex-Raptor is placing 17.2 factors and three.3 rebounds in 33+ minutes an evening. He had 23 on 10-for-20 capturing Tuesday night time.

What’s the Greatest Wager?

The Nuggets live as much as their top-4 West billing. They’re 20-12 within the convention, 17-10 on the street, and 8-2 of their final 10.

With the flexibility to attain at will towards a porous defensive aspect, it’s going to take some sort of scoring present for Portland to tug this one out.

Denver must be careful for the three-point shot: the Blazers are one in every of two groups averaging higher than 40 makes an attempt from deep per recreation. Additionally they hit at a pointy 37.8% fee – good for seventh-best within the NBA.

However after going 14-for-44 (31.8%) of their loss to the Clips, and on zero days relaxation, I’m not overthinking this one.

The decide: Nuggets -5 (-110)

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