Through 2 Quarters
Those hoping for the Portland Trail Blazers to upset the Denver Nuggets may want to start looking elsewhere for things to brighten their day. Denver is way out in front at halftime with a 72-55 lead over the Trail Blazers.
The Nuggets have been relying on center Nikola Jokic, who has 13 points and six assists along with three rebounds and two blocks, and power forward Jeff Green, who has 15 points and two assists in addition to four boards. A double-double would be Jokic’s 10th in a row.
The top scorer for Portland has been small forward Nassir Little (14 points).
Portland hasn’t been much of a second-half team this season, losing 84% of the time when they were down at the break.
Who’s Playing
Portland @ Denver
Current Records: Portland 16-24; Denver 20-19
What to Know
The Portland Trail Blazers have enjoyed the comforts of home their last five games, but now they must head out on the road. They will take on the Denver Nuggets at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday at Ball Arena after having had a few days off. The Trail Blazers should still be riding high after a victory, while Denver will be looking to right the ship.
Rip City didn’t have too much breathing room in their matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, but they still walked away with a 114-108 win. Among those leading the charge for Portland was power forward Robert Covington, who shot 5-for-7 from downtown and finished with 21 points and three blocks.
Meanwhile, Denver was close but no cigar on Tuesday as they fell 87-85 to the Los Angeles Clippers. Denver was up 41-28 at the end of the half but couldn’t hold on to the lead. Their loss shouldn’t obscure the performances of power forward Aaron Gordon, who dropped a double-double on 30 points and 12 rebounds, and center Nikola Jokic, who almost posted a triple-double on 21 points, 13 boards, and eight assists. That makes it nine consecutive games in which Jokic has had at least ten rebounds.
Portland is the clear underdog, so they’re hoping it’s the size of the fight that determines this one. Those betting on them against the spread shouldn’t have high expectations for them since the squad is 4-9 ATS when expected to lose.
The Trail Blazers didn’t have too much trouble with the Nuggets at home in the teams’ previous meeting last November as they won 119-100. The rematch might be a little tougher for Rip City since the team won’t have home-court advantage. We’ll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
How To Watch
When: Thursday at 10 p.m. ETWhere: Ball Arena — Denver, ColoradoTV: TNTFollow: CBS Sports AppTicket Cost: $15.49
Odds
The Nuggets are a big 11.5-point favorite against the Trail Blazers, according to the latest NBA odds.
The line on this game has moved quite a bit since it opened, as it started out with the Nuggets as an 8-point favorite.
Over/Under: -110
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Series History
Denver have won 21 out of their last 38 games against Portland.
Nov 23, 2021 – Portland 119 vs. Denver 100Nov 14, 2021 – Denver 124 vs. Portland 95Jun 03, 2021 – Denver 126 vs. Portland 115Jun 01, 2021 – Denver 147 vs. Portland 140May 29, 2021 – Portland 115 vs. Denver 95May 27, 2021 – Denver 120 vs. Portland 115May 24, 2021 – Denver 128 vs. Portland 109May 22, 2021 – Portland 123 vs. Denver 109May 16, 2021 – Portland 132 vs. Denver 116Apr 21, 2021 – Denver 106 vs. Portland 105Feb 23, 2021 – Denver 111 vs. Portland 106Aug 06, 2020 – Portland 125 vs. Denver 115Feb 04, 2020 – Denver 127 vs. Portland 99Dec 12, 2019 – Denver 114 vs. Portland 99Oct 23, 2019 – Denver 108 vs. Portland 100May 12, 2019 – Portland 100 vs. Denver 96May 09, 2019 – Portland 119 vs. Denver 108May 07, 2019 – Denver 124 vs. Portland 98May 05, 2019 – Denver 116 vs. Portland 112May 03, 2019 – Portland 140 vs. Denver 137May 01, 2019 – Portland 97 vs. Denver 90Apr 29, 2019 – Denver 121 vs. Portland 113Apr 07, 2019 – Portland 115 vs. Denver 108Apr 05, 2019 – Denver 119 vs. Portland 110Jan 13, 2019 – Denver 116 vs. Portland 113Nov 30, 2018 – Denver 113 vs. Portland 112Apr 09, 2018 – Denver 88 vs. Portland 82Jan 22, 2018 – Denver 104 vs. Portland 101Dec 22, 2017 – Denver 102 vs. Portland 85Nov 13, 2017 – Portland 99 vs. Denver 82Mar 28, 2017 – Portland 122 vs. Denver 113Dec 15, 2016 – Denver 132 vs. Portland 120Nov 13, 2016 – Portland 112 vs. Denver 105Oct 29, 2016 – Portland 115 vs. Denver 113Apr 13, 2016 – Portland 107 vs. Denver 99Jan 03, 2016 – Portland 112 vs. Denver 106Dec 30, 2015 – Portland 110 vs. Denver 103Nov 09, 2015 – Denver 108 vs. Portland 104
Injury Report for Denver
Rodney McGruder: Game-Time Decision (Not Injury Related)JaMychal Green: Out (Personal)Jamal Murray: Out (Knee)Vlatko Cancar: Out (Foot)Michael Porter Jr.: Out for the Season (Back)PJ Dozier: Out for the Season (Knee)
Injury Report for Portland
Norman Powell: Out (Covid-19)Larry Nance Jr.: Out (Knee)CJ McCollum: Out (Personal)Cody Zeller: Out (Knee)Anfernee Simons: Out (Personal)Damian Lillard: Out (Abdomen)
