Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 23/02/2024, 08:12  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 23/02/2024 at 14:00 in NBA Prediction

The Portland Trail Blazers will be at home to welcome the Denver Nuggets seeking to end their current slump in the NBA. Both teams sit on opposite ends of the Western Conference with the Nuggets currently fourth and Blazers 14th. The Trail Blazers have lost their last six games. Chauncey Billups’ men were defeated 128-91 last time out right before the recently concluded All-Star break. They will hope the week-long break has been enough to allow them to work on their shortcomings. The Blazers have so far compiled a 15-39 record. They are averaging 107.9 points which is the second worst tally in the league. Their defence however is what has been the major difference for them. Portland are ranked 17th for points allowed with 116.7. Six players have been ruled out for the game with the more recent absentees being Scoot Henderson, Malcolm Brogdon, and Rayan Rupert.

The Denver Nuggets are playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Mike Malone’s men returned from the All-Star break in fine form and thrashed the Wizards 130-110 at home. The win ended a run of three successive defeats and they will be eager to not revert to that form. The Nuggets have now won 37 of their 56 games and are 2.5 games back on top spot in the West. Hunter Tyson and Vlatko Cancar have both been ruled out of this game due to finger and knee issues respectively. The Nuggets are an average-scoring side but have made up for this with their top 10 ranked defence. They are averaging 114.2 points which has them ranked 14th but on defence they are eighth and are allowing 110.8 points a night.