Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Game 3 Odds, Picks, Injury Report & Projected Lineups
- The Nuggets and Blazers meet on May 27th for Game 3 of their first round series
- It stands at one game apiece after some sensational offensive play from both teams
- Read below for the latest Nuggets vs Blazers odds, injury report and prediction
In a rematch of a seven-game series from a couple of seasons ago, the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers are poised for this one to go deep. With the series heading to the northwest, Portland is favored by four points. The Blazers got 42 points from Damian Lillard in Game 2, but it wasn’t enough.
Nikola Jokic has played like an MVP in both games. Even with no Jamal Murray or Will Barton, the Nuggets are a force to be reckoned with. Portland has struggled to cope with the sheer size of the Nuggets, particularly trying to matchup on the wing.
Nuggets vs Blazers Game 3 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | +4 (-112) | +148 | Over 227.5 (-108) |
| Portland Trail Blazers | -4 (-108) | -176 | Under 227.5 (-112) |
Odds as of May 27th
Nuggets vs Blazers Injury Report
The Denver Nuggets continue to suffer from a depleted backcourt. Jamal Murray (ACL) is out until deep into next season. PJ Dozier (groin) isn’t going to return until the second round and Will Barton (hamstring) has been ruled out of Game 3.
Having endured a season riddled with absences, Portland have got healthy for the playoffs. The only player featuring on their injury report is the permanently injured Zach Collins, who hasn’t played a game this season. Terry Stotts has shortened his rotation down the stretch, meaning only Carmelo Anthony, Anfernee Simons and Enes Kanter get significant minutes off the bench. Stotts could give Derrick Jones Jr. more of a run out on Thursday as Portland look to counter the size of Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon.
Nuggets vs Blazers Projected Starting Lineups
| Facundo Campazzo | PG | Damian Lillard |
| Austin Rivers | SG | CJ McCollum |
| Michael Porter Jr | SF | Norm Powell |
| Aaron Gordon | PF | Robert Covington |
| Nikola Jokic | C | Jusuf Nurkic |
Nuggets Adjust
Damian Lillard went berserk in the first half of Game 2. The All-NBA guard went into the half with 32 points and eight made threes. Michael Malone was forced to adjust, and Lillard got the Steph Curry treatment after the break. He scored just 10 points on nine shot attempts in the second half, having been aggressively trapped off screens. Malone played the Aaron Gordon card, and the former Magic forward troubled Lillard with his size.
It will be interesting to see if this is a start of a series-long trend. Does Gordon now matchup with Lillard all game long? Will Malone be happy to leave Austin Rivers or Facundo Campazzo on Lillard and risk another scoring explosion?
32 points & 8 threes in the first half for @dame_lillard pic.twitter.com/nbKtfmLkAL
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 25, 2021
Denver’s backcourt defense is hurt as much as its offense without Jamal Murray and Will Barton. Portland are a tough matchup as a result with CJ McCollum, Norm Powell and Lillard. Gordon has the ability to lock one of them up, and how Stotts deploys him will have a major impact on Game 3.
Similar Issues the Other Way
Where matching up with Lillard is a bit clunky for the Nuggets, Portland’s lack of size causes a problem on the defensive end. Despite a freakishly long wingspan and good defensive instincts, Powell’s size has been an issue at times. He’s just 6’3. Gordon is 6’8 and built like a linebacker. Michael Porter Jr is 6’10.
Malone, on putting AG on Dame:
“This was something Aaron Gordon wanted to do.”
— Mike Singer (@msinger) May 25, 2021
Jokic is going to get his. Portland cannot afford Porter or Gordon to get going. They lost Game 2 even with the forward duo going nine-for-22 from the field. Powell has a key role to play, and he’s their best perimeter defender, but Stotts may be forced to limit the three-guard lineups if Porter and Gordon start making plays.
every single Michael Porter Jr. jumper feels like it's going in watching that picture-perfect form.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 25, 2021
On the other end, though, Powell can be a key player on offense when the Nuggets take the ball out of Lillard’s hands. Portland needs an improvement on his one-for-seven from three so far in the series.
Bet the Over
Both wins have been comfortable in this series so far. Offense has unsurprisingly ruled this matchup. As such, it’s a surprise to see the total below 230. Each of these games have gone way past 228, and it seems like a relatively safe bet to expect that again.
"I'm excited about it…to have 8,000 I look forward to walking out into the arena, national anthem, all the excitement before the game and all the energy that the fans are going to bring to the game"
Blazers Terry Stotts on having more fans at Moda Center for game 3#RipCity pic.twitter.com/yl2jw4bOe1
— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) May 25, 2021
Portland and Denver both have holes on defense. There’s a raft of offensive talent on both teams, and neither has the defensive personnel to really keep them quiet. If the Nuggets slow down Lillard, CJ McCollum and Powell become a big threat. If Portland can stop Jokic getting into the thirties, Gordon and Porter can pick up the slack.
The total over looks good all the way up to 232 or 233.
- Pick: Over 227.5 total points (-108)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
