NBA 12/20 Free Premium Play: Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trailblazers

Denver  at Portland

NBA - 505 Denver Nuggets @ 506 Portland Trailblazers Projected Line: Denver by 9 points Portland will be playing without LaMarcus Aldridge tonight due to an ankle sprain, while Wesley Matthews is also questionable for tonight. Nicolas Batum is also dealing with some back issues, so the Blazers will severely be shorthanded and banged up for tonight. Portland's offense depends a lot from LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews and without these two players, their offensive ratings get much worse (With Aldridge: 109.1; Without Aldridge: 94.5; With Matthews: 110.5; Without Matthews: 95.2). The Blazers have usually a respectable starting lineup, but without these two players, Portland loses a lot, especially without Aldridge's inside presence that forces extra attention on him, while Damian Lillard gains more freedom on the outside. Denver is #1 on the league in pick and roll ball handler defense by allowing just 0.67 PPP, while they are also #4 on transition defense. Therefore, Portland's offense will be in huge trouble tonight. On the other side, Denver has been playing much better lately. Portland's defense is #27 on transitions, #29 on paint defense with 44.0 ppg allowed and #29 on cuts defense. This is everything the Nuggets like to do on offense and with Damian Lillard  defending Ty Lawson, Denver will have a great offensive matchup tonight. Portland is 3-0 on their last three games. They had the merit of beating San Antonio on a poor spot for them, but their last two wins were against Toronto and New Orleans, two slow paced teams that are unable to score in transition. This time, they will face a team that is #2 on fast break points per game with 17.6 ppg and while Denver is a terrible matchup for Portland's defense, the Blazers offense will struggle tonight without Aldridge. I expect a blowout win for Denver tonight, so I'll be taking them in here. Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 505 Denver Nuggets (-5,5) @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker