Denver Nuggets at Portland Blazers Expert Game 3 Picks 5/3/2019

Friday, May 3, 2019

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Nuggets go to Moda Center on Friday where they'll meet Maurice Harkless and the Portland Blazers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The series is tied 1-1 after Portland won Game 2 by a score of 97-90. CJ McCollum had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to help avoid an 0-2 hole for the Blazers. Portland is 4.5-point favorites for Game 3. The over/under is set at 215.5. The Nuggets (54-28, 1st in the Northwest Division) are covering the spread 51% of the time, having gone 46-45-0 this season. The Blazers (53-29, 2nd in the Northwest Division) have an ATS mark of 49-39-1, so they are covering the spread 56% of the time. As the favorite, Portland covers the spread 63% of the time, while Denver covered the spread 48% of the time as an underdog this season. The Blazers have been outstanding for wagerers at home, going 26-17-1 ATS.

Valuable Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 46-45-0 against the spread this season

The Denver Nuggets are 40-51-0 against the over/under this year

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 49-40-0 against the spread this season

The Portland Blazers are 46-42-0 against the over/under this year

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

05/01/19 SF Maurice Harkless Ankle left last game, is questionable Friday vs Denver
03/26/19 C Jusuf Nurkic Ankle is out for season

Player Spotlight

Paul Millsap comes into this game averaging 12.6 points per contest while playing 27.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 7.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is 73%. Nikola Jokic averages 20.1 points per contest in 31.3 minutes per game. He averages 7.3 assists per game and 10.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% for the season while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Maurice Harkless scores 7.7 points per contest while playing 23.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.5 rebounds per contest and has 1.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 67%. Enes Kanter averages 13.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 24.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.8 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver averages 110.7 points per contest, which is 20th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 4.0 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 13th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They average 46.4 boards per contest and 27.4 assists per game, which ranks them 8th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 23rd with 13.4 per game. The Nuggets allow 106.7 points per contest, which is 6th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 1st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.5 rebounds a game which ranks 1st, and they allow 24.6 assists per game which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 6th in the NBA with 114.7 points per contest this season. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 4.2. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 9th in the league. They are 3rd in the NBA in rebounding with 48.0 boards per contest and 25th in assists per game with 23.0. The Blazers are 20th in turnovers per contest with 13.8. The Blazers give up 110.5 points per game, which ranks them 14th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 13th and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 23.2 dimes allowed per game and 3rd with 42.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 2nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113, and their defensive rating of 108.9 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 97.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 14th. 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 15th in the league. Denver is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 20th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 19th in the league. The Blazers are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114.7, and their defensive rating of 110.5 is ranked 16th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 13th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 20th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Denver +4.5

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