- What: NBA Regular Season Game
- When: March 21, 2025
- Who: Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers
- Time: 7:00 p.m. PST
- Where: Moda Center (Portland, OR)
The Denver Nuggets will play the Portland Trail Blazers in a Northwest Division clash on Friday at the Moda Center.
Denver
Nikola Jokic has been dealing with several injuries and has missed the last few games, including a pivotal matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday at Crypto.
Unfortunately, Jamal Murray may also be sidelined, having missed the game against the Lakers. The Nuggets may have to face the Trail Blazers again without either of their star players.
Hoops in the Rose City pic.twitter.com/40zCwbJSYz
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 21, 2025
Can they pull off a win against Portland? Their recent performance against the Lakers suggests they struggle without Jokic and Murray, highlighting their importance for any potential success.
Both stars were on the court in their December meeting with the Blazers, but the Nuggets suffered a heartbreaker, losing on a last-second layup.
This time, they aim to replicate their previous win over Portland, where they triumphed 132-121. In that game, they got off to a strong start with a 40-27 lead after the first quarter and held a 75-56 advantage by halftime.
Portland
Deni Avdija has recently reached an impressive level of performance, proving to be a standout for the Blazers, even while coming off the bench.
In their matchup against the Nuggets, the game was knotted at 66-66 at halftime. The Blazers then ignited an explosive third quarter but let the lead slip away. Fortunately, Anfernee Simons sealed the victory with a buzzer-beater.
The team shot 46.4 percent overall, with a 34.8 percent success rate from three-point range.
Finals Flashback: Honoring the ‘90 & ‘92 NBA Finals Teams!
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They also edged out the Nuggets on the boards, grabbing 45 rebounds to Denver’s 40. Despite committing 11 turnovers, the Blazers recorded seven steals and seven blocked shots.
Even though they nearly lost their lead, the Blazers showed resilience and clinched the win.
If Jokic and Murray are sidelined, the Blazers could seize this opportunity. They possess a roster of young, skilled players who can make smart plays and capitalize on any favorable momentum.
Simons and Avdija are key players to watch. It’s essential for them to maintain disciplined play, as the Nuggets can still take advantage of mistakes even in the absence of their stars.
Nuggets-Trail Blazers Best Bet
The Nuggets have a record of 33-36 against the spread, while the Trail Blazers are 40-29-1 in that category.
In road games, the Nuggets are 17-19 against the spread, whereas the Trail Blazers boast a 21-14 record at home. Against the Northwest Division, the Nuggets have fared better, posting an 8-5 record, while the Trail Blazers are 5-9 within the division.
The status of Jokic and Murray remains uncertain, and their presence is crucial to the team’s performance. Even if they take the court, they’ll unlikely be at full strength.
While the Blazers rank among the lower-tier teams in the NBA, they’ve covered the spread quite a bit this season. I anticipate they’ll continue that trend at home against the Nuggets.
Take the Blazers to win this one the money line at -120 odds.
Best Bet: Trail Blazers money line at -120 odds
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
