With the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers set to begin their 2021 NBA Playoffs Round 1 series on Saturday, here are our Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Game 1 Prop Bets Tips & Picks. Keep tabs on all of our sports betting picks throughout the NBA playoffs.
Odds for Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Game 1 Prop Bets are listed courtesy of BetMGM. BetMGM is offering a Second-Chance Bet for up to $600 for new players. Sign up to claim this welcome promotion and place 2021 NBA Playoffs Round 1 bets during the NBA postseason.
Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Game 1 Prop Bets Tips
Nikola Jokić UNDER 48.5 Total Points, Rebounds, & Assists (-110)
Jokić will be tasked with doing it all against a Portland squad that is much healthier than Denver going into the playoffs. Without Jamal Murray or Will Barton to assist in creating, the ball will be in Jokić’s hands plenty and he should play a ton of minutes. While Jokić averaged 45.5 of this total per game this season, the added minutes and lineup shrinkage should boost his numbers.
However, Jokić will be the focal point of Portland’s defense, with only Michael Porter Jr. to bail him out. He’ll likely see a lot of double teams and will be forced to pass as a result, limiting his scoring opportunities. Jokić was way below the 48.5 total in each of his last two games against the Trail Blazers, which makes me think he’ll fall short again.
Damian Lillard OVER 3.5 Made Three-Pointers (-135)
Lillard averaged over 4 threes per game for the second season in a row and is one of the more notable playoff performers of the past half-decade. The Nuggets are down several members of their backcourt and will be forced to either double-team Lillard or stick someone like Facundo Campazzo on him. Both moves could negate him to an extent, but Lillard will still get his from three-point range, especially if Monté Morris is guarding him.
Jusuf Nurkić UNDER 14.5 Points (-110)
Nurkić averaged just 11.5 points per game this year and isn’t a main part of Portland’s offense, so 15+ points seems like a stretch, especially since he hasn’t made a major dent in previous postseasons. He’ll also be covered by Jokić, which will make it tough for him to score around the rim as well.
Thanks for reading our Nuggets vs Trail Blazers Game 1 Prop Bets Tips & Picks! For more betting advice on the NBA postseason, check out The Game Day’s NBA Playoffs coverage.
