NBA Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets Game 7 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-12-2019, 15:30 EDT

Spread: Denver Nuggets -5.5

Total: +212

In one of the two NBA semifinals that will be decided in a seventh game today, the 2^nd in the West Denver Nuggets, are hosting one last time the 3^rd Portland Trail Blazers, in a do-or-die game that will determine which team will participate in the Western Conference Finals where they will face the defending champions who eliminated the Houston Rockets 4-2 wins.

Blazers had a 53-29 record (45-36-1 against the spread) in the regular season and finished in the 3^rd place of the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they ended a 2-game losing skid with a home victory against Denver in the sixth game of the series, 119-108. Nuggets had a 54-28 record (42-40 against the spread) and were placed second in the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they saw a 2-game victory streak end with a road defeat by Portland in the sixth game of the series, 108-119.

Top Basketball Bookmakers

Portland are led in scoring by Damian Lillard with 29.8 ppg. He also adds 4.3 rebounds and leads the team in assists made with 5.8 per game, while CJ McCollum follows with 24.5 ppg, adding 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Enes Kanter adds 13 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 10.4 per game. Denver are led in scoring by Nikola Jokic with 24.8 ppg. He also leads the team both in assists with 8.9 and in rebounding with 13 per game, while Jamal Murray follows with 21.6 ppg, adding 4.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Paul Millsap adds 15 ppg and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Denver leads Portland 6-4 wins so far this season and have lost only once in their 5 meetings in Denver. Denver are 39-9 at home, while Portland are 23-23 on the road. Portland have a better offense with 114.4 ppg to Denver’s 110.6, while Denver have a better defense, allowing 106.9 ppg to Portland’s 110.5. Portland have a better accuracy from behind the arc (36.1% to 35.2%) and both squads have almost the same accuracy from the field (46.4% to 46.3%). Portland grab more rebounds (47.7 to 46.5), while Denver commit fewer turnovers (12.4 to 13.2) and dish more assists per game (27 to 22.5). Denver have been extremely strong at home and expect them to win by more than 6 points today.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets Game 7 Prediction: Denver Nuggets -5.5 (-109)