The Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets are battling through the first four games of their first-round series, with the series even at 2-2. The Blazers took the crucial first game of the series by 16 points and looked to be in control. Denver bounced back with a 14-point win in Game 2 to salvage the series and their home court advantage. Then, the Nuggets put up their best performance of the series in a 5-point win over the Blazers in Game 3. Portland followed up that disappointing result with a resounding 20-point win in Game 4. Let's look at this Blazers Nuggets series odds, schedule, prediction, and pick in updated form, with the NBA playoff battle back in Denver for Game 5.
Blazers vs. Nuggets Series Odds (Updated 5/31)
Series Winner
Portland Trail Blazers (-130)
Denver Nuggets (+106)
Series Spread
Portland Trail Blazers -1.5 (+220)
Denver Nuggets +1.5 (-280)
Blazers vs. Nuggets Round 1 Series Schedule
Game 1: POR 123-109 DEN
Game 2: POR 109-128 DEN
Game 3: DEN 120-115 POR
Game 4: DEN 95-115 POR
Game 5: POR 140-147 DEN
Game 6: DEN 126-115 POR
No. 3 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have been one of the better teams in the NBA all season long. The Nuggets won't through a mid-season stretch where it seemed they could do no wrong. As a top-10 team in both offensive and defensive efficiency, Denver seems equipped to make a deep postseason run. Of course they'd be in a better position had Jamal Murray not gone down with a season-ending injury, but this team still has the MVP-favorite in Nikola Jokic. The point-center's ability to shoot with efficiency and create for his teammates has a direct correlation with his teams elite shooting percentages.
Denver has their hands full with Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers on the defensive end. The good thing for Denver is that there is a huge disparity on the defensive end of the floor, but Dame, CJ McCollum, and the rest of the Blazers are capable of shooting anyone out of the gym. That's exactly what happened in Game 1. Game 2 was a much different story as the Nuggets came out with much more physicality and intensity, which certainly showed in the final score. That, along with Nikola Jokic's improvement on the offensive end, is what will carry this team past the Blazers in this first round series.
No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers were scorching hot toward the end of the season and carried that momentum into Game 1 of this series. Although they were out-rebounded and less efficient from the floor, the Blazers were able to take the first game by outshooting the Nuggets from beyond the arc. Their 19 made three's were hard for Denver to match and Damian Lillard's 42 points were the ultimate difference. Dame has averaged 38 points through the first two games of this series and is certainly the most electrifying player in this series.
The Blazers averaged over 116 points per game during the regular season, which was good for fifth in the NBA. They possess a clear advantage over Denver in the back court, which will be huge as they try to push the pace and get this Nuggets team out of their comfort zone. Denver got physical down low in Game 2 and Jokic put on a show, which was destined to happen after an off-night in Game 1. There is nothing that Portland can do when that guy gets going and it'll be up to Dame to go tit-for-tat. Portland's main weakness is on the defensive end and if they can show improvements with the next two games on their home court, they should be able to pull off the upset in this series.
Game 3 update: The Nuggets regained home court and control of the series with an impressive 120-115 win over the Blazers in Portland in Game 3. Lillard continued to dominate with 37 points, but the combination of Nikola Jokic's MVP-caliber play and Denver's guard depth allowed them to narrowly outlast the Blazers. Austin Rivers notably stepped up for the Nuggets, racking up 21 points including five 3-pointers in 37 minutes.
Game 4 update: The Portland Trail Blazers bounced back to even the series at two games apiece despite just 10 points from Lillard. Norman Powell in particular made a huge impact, pouring in 29 points while hitting all four 3-pointers that he took.
Blazers-Nuggets Series Prediction and Pick (5/25)
With the series tied at one game a piece, this is the perfect time to back the Denver Nuggets. Denver regained control and now seems destined to get back to their consistent ways. The disparity on the defensive end is what will ultimately allow Denver to take at least one of two games in Portland and have home court advantage in a best-of-three to round it out. I see why the Blazers are favored now with the series all tied up and heading to Portland, but that has just created value for those that believe in Jokic and the third-seeded Nuggets.
FINAL PICKS (5/25)
Series Winner: Denver Nuggets (+140)
Series Spread: Denver Nuggets +1.5 (-144)
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