Denver Nuggets at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/22/2017

Friday, December 22, 2017

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets head to Moda Center to take on the Portland Blazers on Friday, December 22, 2017. The opening line for this game has Portland as 1 point favorites.

The Nuggets head into this matchup with a mark of 16-15. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.0 as they are averaging 107.3 points per contest while giving up 107.3 per game. The Blazers have an overall record of 16-15. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.4 points per game and surrendering 100.5, good for a point differential of 1.9.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 13-17-1 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 15-16-0 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 14-15-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 9-22-0 against the over/under

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

12/20/17 PG Emmanuel Mudiay Ankle is "?" Friday vs Portland
12/20/17 G Gary Harris Elbow is "?" Friday vs Portland
11/21/17 F Paul Millsap Wrist is out indefinitely

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Will Barton comes into this game averaging 15.1 points per contest while playing 31.3 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 71%. Gary Harris averages 16.1 points per contest in 34.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.3 assists per game and 3 rebounds per contest for Denver. His field goal percentage is 48% for the season while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard has scored 25.2 points per contest while playing 37.1 minutes per game this season for the Blazers. He hauls in 5 rebounds per contest and has 6.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 93%. C.J. McCollum averages 21 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 36.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 4 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 107.3 points per contest this year, which is 9th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.03 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 10th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 11th in the NBA. They average 45 boards per contest and 23.5 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 8th with 15.8 per game. The Nuggets allow 107.3 points per contest which is 22nd in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 29th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 41.2 rebounds a game which ranks 4th, and they allow 24.1 assists per game which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 15.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 22nd in the NBA with 102.4 points per contest this season. They are 23rd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 1.9. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 10th in the league. They are 6th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.2 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 18.2. The Blazers are 15th in turnovers per contest with 14.8. The Blazers give up 100.5 points per game, which ranks them 4th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 5th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 18.2 dimes allowed per game and 8th with 41.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 2nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 109.8, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 9th. They are 14th in the NBA in pace with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 8th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 9th in the NBA. Denver is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 2nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 18th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 28th in the NBA. The Blazers are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 103.7, and their offensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 27th. They are 18th in the NBA in pace with 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 25th. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 27th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Nuggets/Blazers NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Portland -1

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