The Portland Trail Blazers host the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their first-round series in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Will the Blazers retake the series lead? Or will the Nuggets win go back to back? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers NBA Playoffs Round 1 Game 3 on May 27, 2021
Where: Moda Center, Portland
When: Thursday, May 27, 2021, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Denver Nuggets (+4) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (-4) – view all 2020-21 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: NBATV
Betting on the Denver Nuggets (+4)
Regular Season Record: 48-26
The Nuggets made sure to win a game before the series gets to Portland. With Nikola Jokic dominating on the floor and some solid numbers from his support group, the Nuggets crushed the Trail Blazers at home in Game 2, 128-109. The Nuggets were more efficient with their shots in Game 2 and were more aggressive. The Nuggets have been shooting the ball well in the series. Even in their loss in Game 1, they shot over 50 percent from the field. In Game 2, they made 53.5 percent of their shots from the floor. This time, though, they went 24 of 30 from the free-throw line. In Game 1, they only had eight free-throw attempts. Denver is simply finding it so easy to score in this series, which was not really a surprise, going into the playoffs, as the Blazers are not known to be a defensive team. The Nuggets also appeared to have shaken the rust off their outside shooting after going 12 of 28 from deep in Game 2.
The Nuggets are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games on a Thursday.
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers (-4)
Regular Season Record: 43-31
The Blazers got a crazy performance from Damian Lillard in Game 2, but he was not able to pull his team to a win. Lillard went off for 42 points with 10 assists, while also hitting nine triples in 42 minutes. CJ McCollum had 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. What’s missing, however, was the support from the Blazers’ bench which played so well in the series opener. In Game 2, Carmelo Anthony only had five points, while Anfernee Simons got just three. They will all have to step up in order to lighten up the load on Lillard, who can’t just be the only Blazer getting in the zone. The Blazers are shooting great from deep in the series, as they’ve made 47.9 percent of their 3-point shots through two games. Portland also needs to cut down on its errors after turning the ball over 21 times to just 12 by the Nuggets in Game 2.
The Blazers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
The Nuggets win, 117-107.
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