POR @ DEN

Game 7

Series Tied 3-3

Spread: DEN -5.5

Total: 212

Odds c/o 5dimes

The Portland Trail Blazers were able to stave off elimination with a Game 6 victory, defeating the Denver Nuggets 119-108 to force a decisive Game 7. It will tip off at 2:30 CT on ABC and the Nuggets are 5.5-point favorites on its home court. NBA oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes have set the over/under at 212, a figure that it has gone over the last four games of this series.

Portland won Game 6 with its two superstars clicking. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined to shoot 23 of 47 for 62 points between them, as the Blazers led by four at the half an rolled to a double-digit victory. Rodney Hood was also huge off the Blazers’ bench with 25 points on 8 of 12 shooting, while achieving a +21 mark for his 32 minutes of play. The trio of Lillard, McCollum, and Hood scored all but 22 Blazers’ points and it connected on 31 of the Blazers’ 41 field goals. Can Portland get the same type of showing in a road Game 7?

Denver won the battle of the boards and it also had fewer turnovers (6 vs. 9). But the Nuggets shot just 38 percent from the floor and outside of Nikola Jokic no Nugget really had much of a showing. Jokic was 10 of 15 from the field en route to 29 points, eight assists, and 12 rebounds, but the rest of the Nuggets simply did not play well. Jamal Murray, the Game 5 hero, shot just 7 of 20 from the field, though he did still finish with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. The Nuggets simply must shoot the ball much better. Free throws kept it in the game, as Denver connected on 30 of 32 from the line, but the Nuggets missed a lot of makable shots. Malik Beasley struggled badly off the Denver bench, missing all eight of his field goals and finishing -3 for his 10 minutes of court time. For a series all about the headliners, in Lillard and Jokic, it could very well be the benches that define this Game 7.

Zach Collins has been a big defensive presence off the Blazers bench, and Hood’s offense has been essential. Similarly, the Nuggets need big scoring games from Beasley and Will Barton—both of whom have just been inconsistent. It can be expected that all eyes are on Dame and “Joker,” but keep an eye on the second units and the second and third quarter stretches which easily could be the defining difference in this game.

ATS TRENDS (C/o Covers):