Carmelo Anthony was in his bag in Game 1. Playing in his old stomping grounds, Melo helped the Portland Trail Blazers score a win and get ahead in the series against the Denver Nuggets. Are we going to see another masterful performance from the Blazers? The Nuggets won’t make that easy for Portland. Remember, this is a team that has the favorite to win the MVP this season in the form of Nikola Jokic.

This NitroBetting news preview covers the essentials of the Blazers vs. Nuggets gam. Check out team info for both teams, key players, the latest NBA odds, betting trends, and expert betting predictions. And don’t forget to check for Basketball betting odds and lines at our online Bitcoin sportsbook before placing your bets.

Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets Game Information

• When: Saturday, May 24, 2021, 10:00 PM ET
• Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
• 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: Portland Trail Blazers +2.0 / OU: 227.0

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Why Bet on the Portland Trail Blazers?

Damian Lillard is the face of the Blazers franchise, but in Game 1, Carmelo Anthony showed why he also used to be one for the Nuggets. Melo went off for 18 points off the bench and tag-teamed with Anfernee Simons to help throw Denver off its rhythm in a 123-109 win. Portland will need those two to keep hitting their shots like they did in Game 1 where they each drilled four 3-pointers. Portland had 19 threes in the series opener, which greatly spelled the difference in the game. The Blazers will not stop shooting the rock from long range as long as Nuggets defenders struggle to chase the shooters, and based on what we’ve seen in Game 1, it’s fair to expect the same offensive narrative for Portland going forward. That’s not easy to do, with Lillard and CJ McCollum being so good at making plays for themselves and their teammates.

Why Bet on the Denver Nuggets?

Nikola Jokic had his way in Game 1, scoring 34 points go to with 16 rebounds, but the Blazers made sure he won’t turn into the dreaded table-setting big man, as he only posted a single assist. The key for the Nuggets is to have another player take the load off a bit in terms of setting the offense from the Serbian’s shoulders.

Still, anytime Jokic sees Enes Kanter on the floor, he can forget about locating his teammates and just go down and hunt for his buckets, knowing that the Turkish center usually plays defense as though it’s just an option. Jokic got lots of help from Michael Porter Jr. in Game 1, as the former Mizzou Tiger scored 25 points, though he went just 1 of 10 on this 3-point attempts. He will have to knock them down in order for the Nuggets to create more space on offense.

Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets Betting Trends

• The Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games.
• The Trial Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
• The Under is 5-2 in the Trail Blazers’ last 7 games against teams with a winning home record.
• The Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after losing by at least 10 points in the game before.
• The Nuggets are 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games in the first round of the playoffs.
• The Over is 5-1 in the Nuggets’ last 6 games after a loss.

Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets Expert Betting Prediction

The Blazers didn’t just win in Game 1, but they also covered the spread. They have all the confidence in the world right now going into Game 2, but the Nuggets surely will have adjustments. Or, perhaps just show up with better outside shooting this time around. The Nuggets should feel a sense of urgency here as they can’t afford to go to Portland down 0-2. Denver is due for a huge fightback.

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.