Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers Betting Pick/Player Prop
21 April 2021
Denver comes into this game with an overall record of 37-20, which has them in second place in the Northwest Division. The Nuggets have won three straight games despite dealing with some adversity at this time.
Portland has lost four of its last five games, and this team is starting to lose its grip on a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers are still 32-25 on the year, but they need to figure things out soon before it’s too late.
The Denver Nuggets are two-point road favorites over the Portland Trail Blazers in this game.
Nuggets Need Big Night From Jokic
All-Star center Nikola Jokic continues to put up monster numbers for the Nuggets, and Denver will need another huge game from its star. Jokic is averaging 26.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, and he could be rewarded with the league MVP award at the end of the season.
The Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray for the remainder of the season after the guard suffered a torn ACL. Murray was pouring in over 20 points per game this season, and his three-point shooting will be missed.
Denver was able to score 139 points in their most recent win, but they also gave up 137 points in that game. The Nuggets are typically one of the better defensive teams in the league, and that defense will need to carry them against the Trail Blazers.
Defense a Disaster for Portland
Speaking of defense, Portland has not played much of it all season long. The Trail Blazers are allowing 115.5 points per game, and that just puts too much pressure on Damian Lillard and the offense.
Lillard leads this team with 28.7 points and 7.7 assists per game, and he could be in for a big night without Murray on the floor. Portland does have the ability to light it up from deep, but at some point, the Trail Blazers must defend.
Finding a way to stop Jokic will be the top priority for Portland, but that hasn’t been easy for any team to do.
Nuggets Cruise to Important Win
Denver has been able to find enough scoring without Murray in the lineup, but that’s going to be a challenge all season long. The Nuggets can take over this game with their defense, but Jokic will need some help on the offensive end of the floor.
Damian Lillard continues to do amazing things for the Trail Blazers, but he just simply can’t do it alone. Portland has to shoot the ball well on Wednesday night, or they are going to suffer another crucial loss.
Portland just hasn’t been able to get stops when needed, and that’s going to come back and bite them again in this game. Bet the Denver Nuggets -2.0 as they head into Portland and pick up an important and impressive win over the Trail Blazers.
Player Prop
Total Rebounds + Assists: Nikola Jokic Over 20.5 (-110)
With all eyes on Jokic' scoring, especially after his 47-point effort against the Grizzlies on Monday, we are going to stay away from his over/under total of 27.5 tonight.
Instead, we are going to focus on the part of his game that seems to show up every night: rebounding and assists. For the month, Jokic is averaging 10.9 rebounds and 10.3 assists. He has had at least 20 combined rebounds/assists in 6 straight games. In his last two games, Jokic is averaging 23 rebounds/assists.
The MVP candidate will be looking to play an even greater role in the Nuggets' attack with Jamal Murray sidelined for the remainder of the season. That should continue tonight as we take The Joker to go Over 20.5 Total Rebounds + Assists versus the Blazers.
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