Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Denver Nuggets will look to avoid losing their fourth straight game when they host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight. All three losses for the Nuggets have been without All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who has been home with his family after the death of his sister. Anthony is expected to return to action tonight, against a Portland team that won 96-91 at Utah last night, and have now won four of their last five. The Trail Blazers won 86-83 at home over the Nuggets back on Nov. 18, but winning on the road hasn’t been easy for Portland, as they are just 6-12 away from home. Checking out the spreads for tonight’s game, the oddsmakers have the Nuggets favored by 7.5-points over the Trail Blazers at home.
The Nuggets three losses without Anthony have all been decided by eight points or less, and you have to think Melo could have made the difference in all three games. It will be interesting to see how Melo comes out tonight after such an emotional week.
While the Nuggets get Anthony back, they could be without Al Harrington, as he dislocated his right thumb against the 76ers on Sunday. Harrington hasn’t been much of a factor lately, but did have 17 points against the Trail Blazers earlier this season.
With Melo out Chauncey Billups has picked up his scoring, averaging 24.7 over his last three games, and I think the Nuggets are going to need another big night from Billups on the offensive end of the floor.
Portland, who is already without Brandon Roy, could also be without Marcus Camby tonight, as he injured his ankle in the win over the Jazz last night. Not having Camby would be a big blow to the Trail Blazers, as he is one of their best defensive players and is their top rebounder.
LaMarcus Aldridge is really playing well right now, and is going to need to be on for the Trail Blazers to have any chance of winning tonight. Aldridge had 26 points and seven rebounds against the Jazz last night, and was a big reason the Trail Blazers were able to win against Denver earlier this season, as he had a game-high 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
The Nuggets have been a completely different team at home this season, going 12-3 at the Pepsi Center, and I think with Camby likely out and the Trail Blazers definitely without Roy, I think you have to put your money on the Nuggets to win by at least eight points. Denver hasn’t lost three in row since February of 2007, and are 12-1 at home against the Trail Blazers with Melo in the lineup.
Got something to say?
