It’s difficult to take much stock in how these two teams played each other during the regular season. The Blazers were without CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic for one of their three meetings, and the Nuggets are now without Jamal Murray (knee). They were hoping to get Will Barton (hamstring) back, but he’s going to miss at least Game 1. With Portland's superior firepower, I expect the Blazers to start off the series with a road victory.

I don’t agree with this number, but if we simply look at the three meetings these teams had this season in which Portland covered the spread in all three (1-2 SU) it’s easier to understand the short price on the Nuggets at home. But the Blazers held Denver well below its season average of 48.5 percent from the field. The Nuggets are just 4-4 in their last eight games, but I’m on them at what I still believe is cheap by three points. But the best value is the Nuggets money line, so I'm going with that.