Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets will look to take care of business at home when they host Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. With both teams going ail-out for the win, let’s find out where the best value lies in this matchup.
Trail Blazers vs Nuggets 2019 NBA Week 8 Odds, Preview & Pick
- When: Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 10:30 PM ET
- Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
- TV: TNT
- Radio: Portland / Denver
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Odds: Denver -9 / Total: 218.5
Why Bet On Portland?
The Trail Blazers (11-13-1 ATS) might be decisive road dogs in this matchup, but there are a handful of great reasons to back them to cover the chalk. Portland has won five of eight and the Blazers managed to snap a two-game skid by routing the lowly Knicks 115-87 on Tuesday night as Damian Lillard scored a game-high 31 points.
Portland also has the higher scoring offense in this affair by averaging seven points per game more than the Nuggets. Last, but not least, the Blazers have gone a bankroll-boosting 21-6 ATS in their last 27 Thursday night games.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 112.80
- Field Goals: 44.97%
- Three Points: 36.46%
- Free Throws: 81.79%
- Rebounds: 46.76
- Average Score Against: 114.28
- Field Goals: 44.07%
- Three Points: 34.31%
- Free Throws: 78.05%
- Rebounds: 48.32
Why Bet On Denver?
The Nuggets (9-11-2 ATS) ) might be giving up nine points in this contest, but there are some good reasons to believe Denver can cover the nearly double-digit spread. First, the Nuggets are, by far, the better defensive team in this matchup by allowing just 101.7 points per game (first) to Portland’s 114.3 points per game allowed.
Then, there’s the fact that the Nuggets have gone a decent 8-3 at home while Portland has gone 5-9 on the road. Last, but not least, Nikola Jokic and company should be quite hungry to get back in the win column after losing three straight road games including a 97-92 loss to Philly on Tuesday night.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 105.82
- Field Goals: 44.62%
- Three Points: 34.98%
- Free Throws: 74.77%
- Rebounds: 45.86
- Average Score Against: 101.68
- Field Goals: 43.44%
- Three Points: 30.82%
- Free Throws: 74.03%
- Rebounds: 45.05
NBA Betting Trends for Trail Blazers vs Nuggets
- Trail Blazers are 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games
- Trail Blazers are 7-13 SU in the last 20 games
- The total went UNDER in 6 of Portland’s last 9 games
- Nuggets are 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games
- Nuggets are 1-5 SU in the last 6 games
- The total went UNDER in 6 of Denver’s last 7 games
Trail Blazers vs Nuggets Expert Analysis and Prediction
The Trail Blazers might not be playing well right now, but Denver has largely struggled this season after flying high out of the gate a year ago. I love the fact that Portland can score points with any team in the league, even if their defense this season has been underwhelming at best. I know Portland is an uninspiring 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games. But Denver has gone 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games.
I like Denver to get back in the win column based on the fact that they are back on their home floor, but I’m not feeling a double-digit win in this one for the Nuggets. I’m expecting Damian Lillard and the Blazers to cover the chalk in this matchup. Portland is 2-9 ATS as an underdog and Denver will be seriously focused in this matchup. Still, the Blazers find a way to cover the big spread with room to spare.
Pick: Portland +9
