Portland Blazers at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 4/9/2018

Monday, April 9, 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, April 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 5 point favorites.

The Blazers come into this game with an overall record of 48-32. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.7 as they are averaging 106.0 points per game while giving up 103.3 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 45-35. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 110.3 points per contest and giving up 108.8, which is a point differential of 1.5.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 43-32-5 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 35-45-0 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 36-41-3 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 41-38-1 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

04/01/18 F Ed Davis Ankle is out indefinitely
03/27/18 F Maurice Harkless Knee is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

03/17/18 G Gary Harris Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

C.J. McCollum comes into this contest averaging 21.5 points per game while playing 36.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Blazers. He pulls down 3.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 84%. Jusuf Nurkic averages 14.3 points per game in 26.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 8.8 rebounds per game for Portland. His field goal percentage is 51% for the year while his free throw percentage is 64%.

Player Spotlight

Paul Millsap averages 15 points per game while playing 29.8 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 6.4 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 70%. Nikola Jokic averages 18.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.6 rebounds per contest and 6.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 106 points per contest this season, which ranks them 16th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.63 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 10th in the league. They average 45.3 rebounds per game and 19.6 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 24th with 13.5 per game. The Blazers allow 103.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 5th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 18th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.7 rebounds a game which ranks 13th and they give up 20.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 6th in the league with 110.3 points per game this year. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.51. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 6th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.4 boards per game, and 4th in assists per contest with 25.2. The Nuggets are 7th in turnovers per game with 15. The Nuggets surrender 108.8 points per contest, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 30th and 29th in those defensive statistics. They rank 26th with 24.9 assists allowed per contest and 1st with 41.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 9th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 13th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.4, and their defensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 19th in the league with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 20th. As a team they are 17th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 18th in the league. Portland is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 9th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the NBA. The Nuggets are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 111.2, and their offensive rating of 112.8 is ranked 5th. They are 15th in the NBA in pace with 96.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 5th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 9th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Portland +5

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