Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Denver Nuggets are in superb form, while the Portland Trail Blazers’ momentum was halted in their last outing against Minnesota. Now, the Trail Blazers face a tough challenge on the road against one of the Western Conference’s top sides, who remain unbeaten in February.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have won six consecutive games, four of them by at least a 12-point margin. Even without Russell Westbrook, they continue to dominate, thanks largely to one of the NBA’s finest, Nikola Jokić. The Serbian star has recorded a double-double in 19 of his last 20 appearances. Offensively, the Nuggets rely on the three-second area, averaging 59.4 two-point attempts per game – the highest in the NBA – while their 57.3% shooting efficiency inside the arc is second only to the Cleveland Cavaliers (58.7%).
Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers struggled in their latest defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves (98:114), collapsing in the fourth quarter (14:38). Defensive frailties remain a major concern for the Trail Blazers, as they concede an average of 113.9 points per game. Meanwhile, their two-point shooting percentage (51.9%) ranks just 25th in the league. The lack of depth is also an issue – rookie Scoot Henderson (13.5 minutes per game) is yet to make a significant impact, while Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant have been inconsistent, failing to score 20+ points in four of their last seven outings.
Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
The Portland Trail Blazers edged out the Denver Nuggets in their last meeting (126:124), but that was an exception rather than the rule. Before that, the Nuggets had won seven straight encounters. Given the Nuggets’ dominant recent form and their habit of securing convincing victories, they should cover the spread comfortably.
