Portland Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets - 12/12/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019

Location: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Denver -5

Total/Over-Under: 224

Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets (14-8, 1st in the Northwest Division) play the Portland Trail Blazers (10-15, 5th in the Northwest Division) at Pepsi Center on Thursday, December 12, 2019. The line on this matchup has Denver as 5 point favorites. The total has been set at 224.

The Blazers are covering the spread 45.8% of the time, having gone 11-13-1 ATS. Denver covers the spread 45.0% of the time, going 9-11-2 against the spread.

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/9/2019 Jusuf Nurkic C Lower Leg Expected to be out until at least Feb 15
12/7/2019 Rodney Hood SG Achilles Out for the season
11/12/2019 Zach Collins PF Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Mar 15

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

12/10/2019 Jamal Murray PG Upper Body Expected to be out until at least Dec 12

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum averages 21.6 points per contest in 36.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.7 assists per game and 4.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 81%. Damian Lillard comes into this game averaging 26.9 points per contest while playing 36.6 minutes per night. He grabs 4.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 7.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 91%.

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic averages 16.0 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.0 minutes per game. He also hauls in 10.0 rebounds per game and dishes 6.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 80%. Jamal Murray scores 17.4 points per contest while playing 31.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.2 rebounds per contest and has 4.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 90%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers allow 114.3 points per contest which is 23rd in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 48.4 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they allow 22.8 assists per game which puts them in 8th place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Portland averages 112.8 points per contest, which is 9th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.5 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 19th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They average 46.8 boards per contest and 20.1 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 28th with 13.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets give up 101.7 points per game, which ranks them 1st in the league. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 5th and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 15th with 23.9 dimes allowed per game and 11th with 45.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Nuggets are 11th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per contest. Denver is 23rd in the NBA with 105.8 points per contest this season. They are 23rd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 4.1. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 20th in the league. They are 11th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.9 boards per contest and 6th in assists per game with 26.2. The Nuggets are 25th in turnovers per contest with 13.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 11th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.8, and their defensive rating of 111.3 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 10th in the league with 102.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 20th. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 18th in the league. Portland is 29th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 22nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 24th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 28th in the league. The Nuggets are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.5, and their defensive rating of 102.3 is ranked 2nd. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 98 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 25th. As a team they are 25th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 27th in the league.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Denver -5 and over 224 total points

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