The Portland Trail Blazers are hosting the Denver Nuggets and tonight’s late-night Western Conference showdown. The Trail Blazers are entering this game on a three-game winning streak. They defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in their last game at home 115-99. As for the Nuggets, they’re coming off a double-digit loss on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-108. This game should be interesting as the Nuggets are playing without their best player, Nikola Jokić. Let’s jump straight into it and cook up another winning slip.
Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trail Blazers Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Denver Nuggets | +2 (-110) | Over 228 (-112) | +116 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | -2 (-110) | Under 228 (-108) | -134 |
| Odds Are Subject to Change Date and Time: March 21st, 2025 @ 10 PM EST | |||
Crucial Stats
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are coming off a tough loss on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-108. In the loss, Denver was without their two best players, Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Despite the loss, Aaron Gordon was excellent with 26 points and 11 rebounds while shooting a very efficient 9/14 from the floor, including 5/9 from distance. Russell Westbrook was subpar despite having a solid game statistically. Westbrook finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and nine assists while shooting a very inefficient 4/14 from the floor. Denver sits in third place in the Western Conference with a record of 44-26. If they want to make a deep postseason run, it all starts with getting Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray back healthy sooner rather than later.
Defensively, the Denver Nuggets are subpar. For the season, they ranked 24th in points allowed per game, 12th in opponent field goal percentage, 23rd in opponent three-point percentage, 16th in blocks per game, 13th in steals per game, fourth in rebounds per game, and 20th in defensive rating. In regards to injuries, there are a few to monitor. Nikola Jokić has been ruled out for this game with the same ankle/elbow injury that kept him out the past two games. Meanwhile, Jamal Murray is listed as questionable, as he has the same ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for the past two games. Over the last 10 games, Denver has a record of 5-5, including 3-6-1 against the spread.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off an impressive win at home over the Memphis Grizzlies, 115-99. Deni Avdija had a sensational game with 31 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks. He was also a team-high +27 when he was on the floor. Anfernee Simons was solid as well, despite his inefficiencies in scoring. Simons finished with 22 points space while shooting 8/24 from the floor, including 2/9 from three. Donovan Clingan was solid with seven points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. With a record of 31-39 on the season, the Trail Blazers sit in 12th place in the Western Conference.
Defensively, the trailblazers are in the middle of the pack team. For the season, they rank 16th in points allowed per game, 17th in opponent field goal percentage, 17th in opponent three-point percentage, ninth in blocks per game, 16th in steals per game, 14th in rebounds per game, and 16th in defensive rating. Regarding injuries, Jerami Grant is listed as doubtful, with a knee injury that has kept him sidelined for the past five games. Over the last 10 games, Portland has a record of 4-6, including 6-4-0 against the spread.
Prediction
The Portland Trailblazers will defend home court, defeat the Denver Nuggets, and cover the two-point spread in this game. It comes down to this: Denver is an entirely different team when Nikola Jokić does not play. We have seen the Nuggets without Jokić over the past two games, and they have split. However, this Portland team has played solid basketball over the past three games. Two of their past three wins have come by double digits, and I do not expect Denver to slow down this young, fast team. I’m taking Portland to defend home court behind a big performance from the dynamic backcourt of Anfernee Simons in Shaedon Sharpe.
Who Ya Got???
Portland Trail Blazers -2 (-110)
