[9:10 PM] Trail Blazers @ Nuggets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Portland Trail Blazers (1-1)

@ Denver Nuggets (1-0)

 

Current odds:

Portland Trail Blazers: (-110)

Denver Nuggets: (-110)

 

• ESPN simulations have Denver as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Portland to win as (TBD) underdogs.

• The line for this game is Denver by 1 point.

• The Denver Nuggets had some trouble guarding a big man in their season opener but did well enough against the guards to come out with the win. The Nuggets will try to keep the defensive pressure on the perimeter when they host Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

• Portland had its intensity in midseason form against the Clippers and scuffled a few times with the team it dispatched in the first round of the playoffs last spring. Center Mason Plumlee was in the middle of most of the pushing and shoving but still put up 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

• Malone decided before the season that he would start Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt and bring Kenneth Faried off the bench, and the logic of that decision was apparent in the opener. Nurkic delivered 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and nine rebounds in 26 minutes while Jokic added seven boards and Faried provided energy off the bench with 14 boards in 28 minutes.

• Nuggets G Gary Harris (groin) sat out the opener and is questionable for Saturday.

• Trail Blazers G/F Evan Turner is 3-of-15 from the field in his first two games after joining the team in the offseason.

• Portland took 11 of the last 12 meetings, including five of six at Denver.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Portland Trailblazers

Confidence: 5/10

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