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The Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets will square off in a crucial Game 5 of this best-of-seven series. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Blazers-Nuggets prediction and pick.
This series has become a best of three as the Blazers and Nuggets have split the first four games. Portland delivered a huge 20-point victory with their backs against the wall in Game 4. This has all of the makings of a seven-game series, which will likely be decided by the outcome of Game 5.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Blazers-Nuggets odds.
NBA Odds: Blazers-Nuggets Odds
Portland Trail Blazers +2 (-110)
Denver Nuggets -2 (-110)
Over 226 Points (-111)
Under 226 Points (-109)
Why The Blazers Could Cover The Spread
The Portland Trail Blazers evened the series in Game 4 and will now look to take a series lead in Denver. With two of the final three games of this series set to take place in Denver, it's crucial that this Blazers club finds a way to play efficient ball on the road. Portland took Game 1 of this series in Denver by a score of 123-109.
The Blazers took Game 4 behind a stellar performance from Normal Powell and the supporting cast. Powell led the way with 29 points on 11-15 shooting from the field. He was a perfect 4-4 from three and 3-3 from the charity stripe. Powell is a defensive anchor and will be a crucial part of Portland's game plan for Game 5 as well.
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Damian Lillard had an uncharacteristic off-night with 10 points on 1-10 shooting from the field. He did deliver a double-double as he dished out 10 assists as well, though. The Blazers are lucky that they were able to secure a crucial victory despite such an awful game by Dame's standards. They better hope he picks it up and returns to form in Game 5.
Why The Nuggets Could Cover The Spread
The Denver Nuggets had a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead with a road win in Game 4. This series would've been history if they had won because two of the last three games are on their home floor. Head coach Mike Malone didn't hold back in expressing his displeasure with his teams all-around performance in Game 4.
The starting five for Denver was atrocious in the recent loss as Nikola Jokic led the way with just 16 points. Facundo Campazzo was the only other Nuggets starter to drop double figures for the game. The offense will need to get back on track against a Portland club that scores at one of the highest rates in the league.
The reserves for Denver did outplay those for Portland in Game 4 however. The Nuggets registered 50 points in a dominating bench performance. Seven of Denver's reserves also possessed a positive plus-minus for the game as well. This sort of production along with a bounce-back performance from Nikola Jokic could be deadly in Game 5.
Final Blazers-Nuggets Prediction & Pick
Portland has certainly exposed some weaknesses on both ends of the floor, which should raise red-flags for Denver supporters. Michael Porter Jr. was irrelevant in Game 4 and Jokic seemed off throughout. Denver's bench play is very intriguing to me, though. They outscored Portland's reserves by a score of 50-29 in the loss. I expect a bounce back from the Nuggets starters in a close game that ultimately goes Denver's way at home.
FINAL PICK: Denver Nuggets -2 (-110)
