Nuggets Given 1-4 Odds to Advance to Western Conference Finals After Hammering Blazers in Game 5

• Oddsmakers list the Denver Nuggets as -400 favorites to eliminate Portland in their NBA second-round playoff series
• Denver leads the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal 3-2
• The Nuggets haven’t reached the Western Conference final since 2008-09

Whether you cheer for the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, or both teams, it’s a great time to be a sports fan in the Mile High City.

How many cities have TWO teams ONE win away from the CONFERENCE FINALS?

The answer is one. One city.

OUR CITY. @nuggets @Avalanche

Let’s dance. @AltitudeSR

— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) May 8, 2019

Both the Nuggets and Avalanche are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals of their respective leagues.

Oddsmakers list Denver as overwhelming -400 favorites to topple the Portland Trail Blazers and move on in postseason play. Denver currently leads the best-of-seven series with Portland 3-2.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets Playoff Series Odds

*Odds taken 05/08/19

The Nuggets haven’t played in a Western Conference final since the 2008-09 NBA season.

Nuggets Take Control

Following a decisive 124-98 triumph in Game 5, oddsmakers dropped Denver’s odds of winning this series from -140 all the way to -400.

The Nuggets dominated this one from the opening tip. They raced to a 9-0 lead. Their halftime advantage was 18 points. The Denver lead had grown to 31 points at one point in the third quarter.

The Nuggets cruise to a 3-2 lead vs. the Blazers ⛏

Jokic: 25 pts, 19 reb, 6 ast ? pic.twitter.com/M4QFrsPkOk

— ESPN (@espn) May 8, 2019

Earlier in the series, it was Denver’s Jamal Murray doing the damage. He recorded back-to-back 34-point performances in Games 3 and 4.  Game 5 saw Nikola Jokic do it all, collecting 25 points, grabbing 19 rebounds, and dishing out six assists.

? JAMAL MURRAY FOLLOWS THE MISS! #MileHighBasketball

?: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/ZJFDuxLZ7u

— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2019

Though he was limited to 18 points in Game 5, Murray directly contributed to 12 points during a 16-6 run late in the second quarter that broke the game open. Paul Millsap contributed 24 points. He was able to take advantage of a mismatch, with Portland assigning the bigger, slower Enes Kanter to guard him.

Damian Bad Omen

The Nuggets did a spectacular job curtailing Portland guard Damian Lillard. He scored 22 points but was 9-for-21 from the field and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Jokic wasn’t having it last night against the Trailblazers pic.twitter.com/aHqwZD7oCi

— Processing Sports (@Processing_Pod) May 8, 2019

Lillard and backcourt partner CJ McCollum, the trail blazers for the Trail Blazers, simply couldn’t find a path to the hoop. Combined, they were 14-of-47 for 34 points in Game 5. Three times during the playoffs, one of the pair has gone off for 34 or more points.

#RipCity pic.twitter.com/PWmX5DRQ2S

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 8, 2019

The rest of Portland’s players switched to reverse gear. Kanter was a dismal 2-of-9 from the field. Al-Farouq Aminu bricked his first seven shots. The Trail Blazers missed 14 free throws and surrendered 22 second-chance points.

One Way or Another, It’s Over

This was truly a pick’em matchup through four games. But the Nuggets flexed in Game 5, and the Trail Blazers wilted.

Denver laid an egg in Game 6 of Round 1 against San Antonio and it wouldn’t be surprising to see that happen again. But there’s absolutely no way Portland is going to Denver and taking Game 7. Their Game 2 quadruple-OT decision is Portland’s only victory in the last eight visits to the Pepsi Center.

Hernangomez put on the moves and the Nuggets bench lost it ? pic.twitter.com/0wCuC2o8Mz

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 8, 2019

Denver won an NBA-best 34 home games this season.

Take Portland to win Game 6 and Denver to win the series.