The Nuggets found a way to emerge with a win in Game 1 on short rest after their first-round series against San Antonio. They were fortunate to hit a handful of key shots and Nikola Jokic made a bunch of plays. They also managed a sequence of key defensive stops but never created comfortable separation against the Blazers. But in Game 2 on Wednesday is when a little fatigue could catch up with Denver, and Portland should be in decent shape to tie the series if it executes as well as it did in Game 1 and gets improved production from CJ McCollum.

Including the first game of this series, the Nuggets and Blazers have played five times this season. In those five games they've scored an average of 228 points per game and the Over has gone 5-0.

Game 1 ended in an eight-point Denver win and cover, but it's hard to imagine either team pulling away. The Nuggets won the opener because they outscored the Blazers 23-6 off turnovers, went 27-of-31 on free throws and Nikola Jokic was an unstoppable force. Look for the Blazers to refocus and keep it close, if not win outright.

With a quick turnaround after their series with the Spurs went seven games, the Nuggets came away with an eight-point victory in Game 1 against the Blazers. Nikola Jokic dominated with 37 points and should continue to have a huge series with Jusuf Nurkic out and Enes Kanter battling a shoulder injury. The Nuggets have been an excellent team at home all season, so look for them to win and cover again Wednesday in Game 2 before this series shifts to Portland.