Nuggets vs Blazers Odds, Spread & Picks (Dec. 8)
- Denver is a 1 point favorite on the road in Portland in the Nuggets vs Trail Blazers odds on Thursday
- Damian Lillard will play his second game in a row after missing seven outings with a calf strain
- Get the complete Nuggets vs Trail Blazers odds below, plus injury updates and best bets
The Portland Trail Blazers got two pieces of good news this week. First, Damian Lillard is back. The face of the franchise returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing seven games with a calf injury. His return couldn’t have come soon enough as the Trail Blazers (13-11, 5-5 home) were mired in a 2-5 stretch.
The second piece of good news is that the most daunting part of their schedule is behind them. Up until this point only the Bulls schedule has rated tougher. 14 of their first 24 games were on the road, with most of the contests coming against playoff destined teams from both conferences.
But schedules have a way of evening themselves out. Portland is back home and will have had three days off before Thursday’s tilt with the Nuggets (14-10, 8-7 away), a game where they are catching points in the NBA odds. The Trail Blazers will remain in Portland for 10 days, and will face six below .500 opponents in their next eight games.
Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | -1 (-110) | -115 | O 226 (-110) |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +1 (-110) | -105 | U 226 (-110) |
Odds as of December 7 at FanDuel. Claim the FanDuel Sportsbook promo code to bet on the Nuggets vs Trail Blazers game.
Denver opened up as a 1-point favorite, in a contest that features a total of 226. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 pm ET at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, with NBA TV providing the broadcast coverage.
Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Betting Analysis
The fact that Portland is 13-11 despite a gruelling schedule and an abundance of injuries suggests the ceiling is higher for this team than most people expected. They were on the road for 22 days of a 31 day stretch, bouncing around from one timezone to another, and playing their share of back-to-backs.
But the Trail Blazers have persevered and now with a soft rest of the month ahead of them, they can start creeping their way up the West standings.
Another one of them one-two-threes 🎯#RipCity | @Dame_Lillard pic.twitter.com/qSN4GZTMOI
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 5, 2022
Thursday’s matchup against the Nuggets is no gimme however, and will be their toughest game until a date with Dallas next Friday. Portland waxed Denver 135-110 earlier this season, behind 31 points from Lillard.
The 32-year-old has missed 12 games so far and the Trail Blazers have predictably struggled, going 5-7 without him. His absence for half of the season has forced other players to step up, and Anfernee Simons has answered the call.
Simmons is averaging 25 points a night, and is just one game removed from a 45-point effort versus Utah. He’s been the number one option with Lillard out, and provides an exceptional second option now that he’s back.
Anfernee Simmons cannot miss tonight 😎pic.twitter.com/nzDXS93B9Z
— Blazers Nation (@BlazersNationCP) December 4, 2022
Portland enters play ranked 13th in offensive rating and fourth in three-point efficiency. Defensively, they sit 11th in points allowed, which is quite impressive given the quality of opposition they’ve faced.
Denver meanwhile, will be looking to rebound following three straight losses. The skid was preceded by four consecutive victories, although only one of the wins came against an above .500 team. They have struggled versus quality opposition all season, going 5-7 against opponents currently occupying a playoff spot.
Nikola Jokic is still a top-eight contender in the NBA MVP odds, but he’s on pace for his worst season since the 2019-20 campaign. He’s averaging four fewer points than a season ago, and 3.8 less rebounds. His assist numbers are up, but his three-point efficiency, free throw percentage, steals and blocks are down.
NBA Offensive Rating Stats
| Rank | Team | Offensive Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Boston Celtics | 120.0 |
| 2. | Phoenix Suns | 117.3 |
| 3. | Utah Jazz | 116.1 |
| 4. | Sacramento Kings | 115.9 |
| 5. | Denver Nuggets | 115.8 |
The Nuggets are an elite offensive team, ranking fifth in offensive rating and number one in field goal percentage. Defensively however, it’s a different story. Denver grades out 26th in defensive rating and 29th in opponent field goal percentage.
Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Prediction
With the Nuggets offensive and defensive numbers you’d expect them to get involved in lots of shootouts. However, that doesn’t normally happen. Why? Because of pace. Denver is one of the league’s eight slowest teams. They prefer to set up in the half court, patiently waiting for a favorable matchup to appear.
That style of play suits Portland just fine, as they play even slower than the Nuggets. The Trail Blazers rank 27th in pace, and have seen their games fall under the total at one of the league’s highest rates. Portland contests are 13-9-2 to the under, including 10-6-1 as an underdog. 11 of their past 18 outings have failed to clear the total, and I like this one to come up short as well.
On the injury front, Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. (heel) is questionable to play for the first time since November 22nd. Portland will be missing Gary Payton II (abdomen) again, while Josh Hart (ankle) is probable.
Pick: Under 226 (-110)
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
