Last October when the pro basketball season opened nobody paid much attention to either the Denver Nuggets or Portland Trailblazers. Sure, Portland had a good NBA games betting odds reputation as a home court money maker. And Damian Lillard has long been a star for the Trail Blazers. But none of that made them a Western Conference title contender in the eyes of gamblers. By contrast the Nuggets may as well have been on a milk carton last fall. Now that is no longer the case. Nikola Jokic emerged as an All Star for the Northwest Division champions.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets Game 2
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 9 p.m. ET
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
NBA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trailblazers | +3½ (-110) | 218 (-110) | +150 |  |
| Nuggets | -3½ (-110) | 218 (-110) | -170 | |
| ||||
Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets TV Coverage:
Series Format
Following this second game at Denver the best of seven series moves to Portland for games three and four. If necessary, games five and seven would be at Denver with game six at Portland. Consequently, the winner of this series moves on to the Western Conference Finals.
Jokic Emerges as Denver Star
At the onset of the NBA season Nikola Jokic was not a household name. After being named to the All-Star Game for 2019 and leading his team to a division title that is no longer the case. The native of Yugoslavia has blossomed into the main man that Denver has lacked since Carmelo Anthony. So far in the playoffs he has averaged 23.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per outing. Jokic has demonstrated himself to be one of the most complete players in pro basketball. More emphatically he has given the Nuggets much needed identity.
Lillard Lights up Portland Marquee
By contrast to Jokic, Portland’s Damian Lillard has been at the forefront of stardom. Lillard is a four-time NBA All Star and was 2013 Rookie of the Year. Lillard has been dominant in the playoffs with 33 points and 6.0 assists per contest. Also contributing to the Trail Blazers post season run is CJ McCollum with 24.4 points per game. Enes Kanter has powered to 10.2 rebounds per outing. But a shoulder injury has made Kanter’s offshore bookmaker status uncertain.
Team ATS Stats
Late on Portland has been a weak NBA games betting value getting points on the road. In their last 12 games as an away pup the Trail Blazers have covered only five times. Three of their last five in that role have gone under the total. On the other hand, the Nuggets have been in the black recently as a home chalk. Denver has paid in four of their last seven laying points at Pepsi Center. Four of their last five in that situation went under the total.
Matchup to Watch
In this situation the Pepsi Center may bring the NBA games betting odds matchup advantage. To illuminate the Trail Blazers have come away with the cash in only one of their last five visits to Denver. Six of the last eight in this matchup at Pepsi Center have gone over the total.
Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets NBA games Betting Odds Picks
As has been noted Portland struggles to get the cash on the road and at Denver.
Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Online Pick: Denver Nuggets
Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Online Score Prediction: Nuggets 109, Trail Blazers 99
Check out the heroics of Denver’s Nikola Jokic in the game seven win over San Antonio!