Almost every game in the Western Conference this last week of the season has playoff implications, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets showdown on Monday night is no different. Portland comes into the game 48-32 along with a secured playoff spot. With a win in one of their final two games, the Trail Blazers will secure the three seed.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They sit at ninth in the standings but are just one game back of being in fifth place. The Nuggets are very good at home this year going 30-10 and a dismal 15-25 on the road. Their home record is the fourth best in the National Basketball Association. This is a team that could do some damage in the playoffs since they are so good at home. The Denver Nuggets are -4 in this game.
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The Trail Blazers Need Just One Win to Clinch the Three Seed
The Trail Blazers have been struggling as of last dropping their last three contests. If they had a win in any of those, they would have already clinched the three seed in the West. Over the last ten games they are 4-6, not helping their playoff seeding at all. The Trail Blazers are just a bit better at home than on the road this year winning 27 at home and 21 on the road.
They are pretty much a two man show as Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum lead the team in scoring at 26.8 points a game and 21.5 points a game, respectively. The only other player averaging double digits a game is center Jusif Nurkic who scores 9.4 points a game. The Trail Blazers score 106 points a game as a team with over half of their points coming from those three guys.
The Nuggets Look To Squeeze Into the Playoffs
The Nuggets will pretty much have to win both of their remaining games if they want to earn a spot in the playoffs. They have won five games in a row and are really making a push for the playoffs. This is a well-rounded team who, like I said earlier, could do some damage in the playoffs. They are pretty much a lock to win on their home floor so a playoff series against them could be tough.
They are led in scoring, rebounding, and assists by Nikola Jokic who scores 18.3 points a game, grabs 10.3 rebounds a game, and dishes out 6.1 assists a game. Jokic is their go to man for pretty much everything, if you can stop him you can beat the Nuggets. Six others on the team score in double figures.
The Nuggets are Fighting for Their Playoff Lives
The Nuggets are excellent at home, and this one is on their home floor. I think the Trail Blazers will put up a good fight but the Nuggets aren’t going to let their playoff hopes slip away on their home floor. Jokic should have a big game and Gary Harris will perform excellently, as he has all year long. I would bet on the hot team, the Denver Nuggets.
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