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Rogers' *10* NBA Game of the Day >> 33-21-2 L55! +$14k In Hoops!
(NBA) Portland vs. Denver,
Point Spread: 2.50 | -115.00 Portland (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 2.50 | -115.00 Portland (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 13-14 Portland Trail Blazers visit Denver to take on the 9-16 Nuggets, having already beaten them twice this season, 115-113 (OT) in Denver back on Oct. 29 and then 112-105 in Portland on Nov. 13.
Portland: The Blazers got a much-needed 114-95 win against Oklahoma City on Tuesday, ending a four-game losing streak. Portland held Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook in check (20 points on 7 of 19 shooting), while shooting 53.8% from the floor as a team, a six players scored in double digits. That's hardly typical, as all season, Portland's dynamic backcourt duo of Lillard (27.3-4.7-5.8) and McCollum (22.4) have done the bulk of the scoring. Harkless (12.5-5.3) and Plumlee (10.4-7.2-4.3) are the only other Blazers averaging in double digits on the year. The Blazers (109.8 PPG ranks 6yh) can score on a nightly basis but stopping their opponents has been another story (111.4 PPG allowed ranks 28th of 30 teams).
Denver: The Nuggets are back home after a 2-4 road trip in which they lost at 7-17 Brooklyn, 10-14 Washington and 6-19 Dallas. No loss was more disappointing than the 112-92 loss in Dallas to wrap up the six-game road trip, as the sad-sack Mavericks dominated Monday's game by scoring 65 in the first half against a seemingly non-existent Denver defense. Dallas shot 58.7 percent prompting head coach Mike Malone to say, "Our one-on-one defense is pathetic right now. We don't take pride in it. We allow guys just to back us down and score way too easy." Denver ranks 26th in points allowed (108.8) and 25th in opponents' FG percentage (46.4%).
The pick: No reason to expect Portland not to win here, just as the Blazers have done in their first two meetings with the Nuggets this season. The Nuggets have lost eight of their last 11 overall, and are just 3-7 SU at Pepsi Center on the season. Portland is a 10* play.
Portland: The Blazers got a much-needed 114-95 win against Oklahoma City on Tuesday, ending a four-game losing streak. Portland held Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook in check (20 points on 7 of 19 shooting), while shooting 53.8% from the floor as a team, a six players scored in double digits. That's hardly typical, as all season, Portland's dynamic backcourt duo of Lillard (27.3-4.7-5.8) and McCollum (22.4) have done the bulk of the scoring. Harkless (12.5-5.3) and Plumlee (10.4-7.2-4.3) are the only other Blazers averaging in double digits on the year. The Blazers (109.8 PPG ranks 6yh) can score on a nightly basis but stopping their opponents has been another story (111.4 PPG allowed ranks 28th of 30 teams).
Denver: The Nuggets are back home after a 2-4 road trip in which they lost at 7-17 Brooklyn, 10-14 Washington and 6-19 Dallas. No loss was more disappointing than the 112-92 loss in Dallas to wrap up the six-game road trip, as the sad-sack Mavericks dominated Monday's game by scoring 65 in the first half against a seemingly non-existent Denver defense. Dallas shot 58.7 percent prompting head coach Mike Malone to say, "Our one-on-one defense is pathetic right now. We don't take pride in it. We allow guys just to back us down and score way too easy." Denver ranks 26th in points allowed (108.8) and 25th in opponents' FG percentage (46.4%).
The pick: No reason to expect Portland not to win here, just as the Blazers have done in their first two meetings with the Nuggets this season. The Nuggets have lost eight of their last 11 overall, and are just 3-7 SU at Pepsi Center on the season. Portland is a 10* play.
