The Portland Trail Blazers hit the road to face the Denver Nuggets at the Ball Arena for Game 1 of Round One of the 2021 NBA playoffs. Following a win over the Nuggets on the last day of the regular season, the Blazers have high spirits coming into this game. But despite losing their last game, the Nuggets were able to finish strong and hold onto the 3rd seed of the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Blazers stayed in 6th seed, right behind the Mavericks and ahead of the Lakers. The two sides last met in the Western Conference playoffs in 2019, where the Blazers closed the game in 7. This time around, it’s payback time for the Nuggets.

the NitroBetting news highlights all the important details you need to secure winning picks. This preview covers essential team info, key players, as well as the latest NBA odds, timely betting trends, and our very own expert betting predictions. Don’t forget to check out all the latest Basketball betting odds and lines at our online Bitcoin sportsbook before placing your bets!

Blazers vs. Nuggets Game Information

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets: Game 1

Saturday, May 22nd. 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports NW. #RipCity pic.twitter.com/q3OHcyoa9b

— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) May 19, 2021

• When:Saturday, May 22, 2021, 10:30 PM ET
• Where: Ball Arena, Denver
• TV: NBA TV / ESPN
• Radio: Rip City Radio 620 AM (Blazers) / Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Nuggets)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Blazers +1.0 / OU: 228.0

Why Bet on the Portland Trail Blazers?

It was a series of ups and downs for the Blazers in the regular season due to injuries that hit key players CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. Nonetheless, the team can conclude their campaign on a high note, avoiding the Play-In tournament. The team finished second in offensive rating in the league thanks to attack-focused players. On top of that, they are a strong offensive rebounding team averaging 10.6 boards.

Damian Lillard is the man to watch in this Blazers vs Nuggets game. He is one of the players behind the team’s success in three-point shooting, bringing them up to the top 10 in the league. The guard also records tremendous free-throw-shooting numbers at third in the league. Furthermore, with the services of Carmelo Anthony and CJ McCollum, Lillard gets more resting time in between stints. This team’s scoring abilities are off the charts as seen in their previous game against the Nuggets where 7 players hit double-digit scores.

Why Bet on the Denver Nuggets?

The Nuggets closed their regular season campaign with an impressive 47-24 record. Unlike other teams in the NBA, the team maintained a well-balanced offensive and defensive side, finishing 7th and 12th in ratings, respectively. They boast fluid ball movement that allows for cleaner shooting opportunities. As a result, the team finished sixth in assists per game at 26.8. Also, offensive rebounding is never a problem for the Nuggets with the help of frontcourt players Nikola Jokic, JaMychal Green, and Paul Millsap controlling the offensive glass.

With hopes of a lengthy playoff run, the Nuggets look at Nikola Jokic to lead the charge. He is one of the three finalists for the MVP award following a spectacular performance in the regular season. The big man records an average of 26 points, 8 assists, and 10.8 rebounds per game. Without Jamal Murray, Markus Howard stepped up to fill some of the void left by the guard. Howard recently recorded a 23-point game, with 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Blazers vs. Nuggets Betting Trends

• The Blazers are 7-3 in their last 10 away games.
• The Blazers are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 away games.
• The totals have gone over in 5 of the Blazers’ last 7 games against the Nuggets.
• The Nuggets are 5-5 in their last 10 home games.
• The Nuggets are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 home games.
• The totals have gone under 5 times in the Nuggets’ last 10 games.

Blazers vs. Nuggets Expert Betting Predictions

If the Portland Trail Blazers can carry on relentless attacks, they can get away with having a vulnerable defense. But if they let their guard down for a second, the Nuggets will likely take advantage of this and try to get the upper hand. Nikola Jokic also has the upper hand over Jusuf Nurkic, which makes it even tougher for the Blazers. Covering the spread shouldn’t be far from the Blazers’ reach, and a surprise win might even happen. But on paper, the Nuggets are the favored team in Game 1 of the series.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NBA game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.