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The Denver Nuggets (14-10) and Portland Trail Blazers (8-18) meet Thursday at Moda Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Nuggets won 4-0 in 2023-24, but Trail Blazers were 3-1 against the spread (ATS) and the Over was 3-1
The Nuggets edged the Sacramento Kings 130-129 as a 1.5-point underdog on the road last time out Monday as the Over (237.5) cashed. The Nuggets have won 3 in a row, while also covering 3 straight. The cover streak is the longest of the season, while the win streak is the longest since a 5-game win streak Nov. 2-10.
The Trail Blazers lost 116-109 at the Phoenix Suns Sunday, but Portland was able to cover as an 11-point underdog. The Blazers have dropped 6 in a row, while going 2-4 ATS, while the Over is 4-2 in those 6 outings.
Nuggets at Trail Blazers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 6:42 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Nuggets -350 (bet $350 to win $100) | Trail Blazers +280 (bet $100 to win $280)
- Against the spread: Nuggets -8.5 (-110) | Trail Blazers +8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 235.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Nuggets at Trail Blazers key injuries
Nuggets
- G Christian Braun (back) questionable
- F Vlatko Cancar (knee) out
- F Dario Saric (ankle) out
Trail Blazers
- C DeAndre Ayton (illness) questionable
- F Dalano Banton (hip) questionable
- G Matisse Thybulle (ankle) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Nuggets at Trail Blazers picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 121, Trail Blazers 115
Moneyline
The Nuggets (-350) will cost you 3 and a half times your potential return, and that’s quite a bit of risk for not enough reward.
The Trail Blazers (+280) weren’t able to scratch out a win in 4 meetings last season and Portland was able to keep 2 of the previous 3 meetings within single digits.
PASS.
Against the spread
Back the TRAIL BLAZERS +8.5 (-110) catching more than 4 buckets. The Blazers covered 3 of the 4 meetings last season despite losing each of the battles straight up.
Portland has just 8 wins this season, but it has covered the past 2 games, while going a respectable 9-5 ATS in the past 14 games as an underdog.
Go lightly, though, as the Nuggets -8.5 (-110) have covered in a season-high 3 in a row. However, they’re also just 2-6 ATS in the past 8 games as a favorite.
Over/Under
OVER 235.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Over is 4-2 in the past 6 games for Portland since flipping the calendar from November to December.
For Denver, the Over is 3-1-1 in the past 5 outings, while the Over is 4-1 in the past 5 meetings the Portland. The total has gone high in 6 of the past 8 battles, too.
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