Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Picks, Predictions: Denver Looks to Burst Portland’s Bubble
The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the more pleasant surprises of the NBA so far this season. Read on for our Denver Nuggets and Trail Blazers picks and predictions.
The Blazers have raced out to a 3-0 start outright and against the spread. Monday should be Portland’s toughest test yet, however, as it faces a Nuggets team (2-1) that has started to find its groove offensively.
Read on for our picks and predictions for Monday’s NBA matchup between the Nuggets and Trail Blazers (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Game Info
Date/Time: Monday, Oct. 24, 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Location: Moda Center, Portland, OR
Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Odds
Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Odds Analysis
The Nuggets opened as 2-point road favorites and have been bet up to -4.5 (-110) at FanDuel and -4.5 (-115) at DraftKings. As of Monday morning, 78% of the money wagered on the spread has been for the Nuggets.
The total opened at 231, but has fallen to 227 (-110) at FanDuel and 227 (-105o) at DraftKings despite Pregame.com listing 62% of the money going to the Over for this total.
Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Picks
- Spread: Nuggets -4.5 (-110 via FanDuel)
- Over/Under: Over 227 (-105 via DraftKings)
- Prop: Michael Porter Jr. Under 6.5 rebounds (-128 via FanDuel)
Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers ATS Pick
Nuggets -4.5 (-110) ★★★★
Portland has been woefully underestimated by both the analysts and sportsbooks so far this season, rattling off three straight wins over the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers to open the campaign.
Despite the surprising start, the books haven’t bought in. The Trail Blazers are once again pegged as underdogs heading into Monday night’s tilt with Denver. There seems to be a good reason for this, though, as the Nuggets have looked strong in the early going, posting a 2-1 start with wins over the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Nuggets are arguably stronger than they were when the Suns eliminated them from the NBA Playoffs a year ago. Nikola Jokic is a force alongside a healthy Michael Porter Jr. I respect the competition against whom the Nuggets have thrived so far this season; Monday’s test for the upstart Blazers will represent their toughest to date. This is where reality sets in for Portland.
Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers O/U Pick
Over 227 (-105) ★★★
The presumably explosive Nuggets offense took a minute to get integrated into the new season, scoring just 102 points in an opening night loss to the Jazz that fell short of this 227-point total. Denver has kicked it into gear in its last two games, though, with scoring totals of 122 and 128 that are more typical of what this Nuggets team should produce throughout the year.
Denver is capable of that type of output again on Monday, despite facing a Portland group that ranks inside the top-10 in defensive efficiency and scoring defense in the early stages of the year.
With the rate of possessions Denver gets, this game will see some points. The total could also get a boost from the rather inefficient Nuggets defense. Though Portland hasn’t done much scoring yet, Denver has allowed the fifth-most points per game to its opponents in the NBA so far this season.
Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Prop Pick
Porter Under 6.5 rebounds (-128) ★★★
After seeing 35 minutes on opening night, Michael Porter Jr. has watched his court time get trimmed to about 27 minutes in each of the Nuggets’ last two games. That’s fewer opportunities to land rebounds for a player who has already underachieved slightly compared to his career norms in this category. After clearing this total with seven boards in the opener, Porter Jr. has collected six each over his past two games.
MPJ might be unleashed at some point, regaining the aggressiveness on the boards that his lengthy frame suggests. But for now, I don’t see Monday as an overwhelming rebounding total against a Portland team that ranks in the top half of the NBA in allowing the fewest rebounds to its opponents so far this season.
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Nuggets-Trail Blazers picks made 10/24/2022 at 2 p.m. ET
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