Portland Blazers at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 1/22/2018

Monday, January 22, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Monday, January 22, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 4.5 point favorites.

The Blazers come into this game with an overall record of 25-21. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.1 as they are averaging 104.2 points per game while giving up 103.1 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall record of 23-23. They currently are 4th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 106.0 points per game and surrendering 105.7, good for a point differential of 0.3.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 21-23-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 19-27-0 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 20-24-2 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 18-28-0 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

11/21/17 F Paul Millsap Wrist is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

C.J. McCollum comes into this contest averaging 21.6 points per game while playing 36.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Blazers. He pulls down 4 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 88%. Damian Lillard averages 25.2 points per game in 36.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6.6 assists per contest and 4.8 rebounds per game for Portland. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 92%.

Player Spotlight

Gary Harris averages 17.1 points per game while playing 34.9 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 2.8 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage currently is at 81%. Will Barton averages 14.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.8 rebounds per contest and 4.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 104.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.13 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 19th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 5th in the league. They average 44.5 rebounds per game and 19 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14.3 per game. The Blazers allow 103.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 8th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 7th and 13th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.5 rebounds a game which ranks 12th and they give up 19.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 12th in the league with 106 points per game this year. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 0.35. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 19th in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 45.2 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 23.4. The Nuggets are 5th in turnovers per game with 15.7. The Nuggets surrender 105.7 points per contest, which ranks them 14th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 21st in those defensive statistics. They rank 23rd with 24 assists allowed per contest and 3rd with 41 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 15th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 106.3, and their offensive rating of 107.5 is ranked 25th. They are 18th in the NBA in pace with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 22nd. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 23rd in the NBA. Portland is 19th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 25th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 6th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league. The Nuggets are 11th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.1, and their defensive rating of 108.8 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 16th in the league with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 13th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Portland +4.5

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