Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Game 3, 5/27/21 NBA Playoffs Predictions

Nuggets vs. Blazers Game 3 Prediction

The Nuggets-Trail Blazers series is all tied up and now shifts to Portland for Game 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday night. After the over cashed in the first two games and with the Trail Blazers laying four points as a home favorite, what’s the best play tonight?

Game Snapshot

555 Denver Nuggets (+4) at 556 Portland Trail Blazers (-4); o/u 227.5

10:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, May 27, 2021

Venue: Moda Center

TV: NBATV

Denver Nuggets DFS Notes

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to a much-needed victory on Monday evening, racking up a team-high 38 points to go with eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and four turnovers in only 31 minutes. His assist numbers have been down thus far with just 3.0 per game so far in the playoffs (just two games, but still), but his 36.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game more than make up for that. This just shows he’s being more aggressive and he actually got a decent amount of help tonight in what was a well-balanced effort. Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 points which included 11 in the second quarter, Monte Morris had 12 big points with six dimes, and even Paul Millsap came off the bench for 15 points, seven boards and three assists, including a huge 11/5 in the first half that provided a huge spark for Denver. We’ll see who’s able to take the crucial 2-1 lead when these teams head to Portland for Game 3 on Thursday.

Portland Trail Blazers DFS Notes

Damian Lillard had an unreal second quarter that led him to 42 points, four rebounds, 10 assists, nine triples and a block in 42 minutes of a 109-128 loss on Monday. He went full Dame Time in a 4:36 span in the second quarter in which he scored 22 points, bringing him to 32 total points and eight 3-pointers at the half - this makes him the first player in franchise history with that many threes in a half and also ties the most in a half in NBA playoff history. The problem with this Blazers team is that even when Lillard does his part and then some, their defense is too unreliable, and it didn't help that their offense was unusually absent tonight. C.J. McCollum wasn’t bad with 21 points and six boards, but also had five turnovers, while Jusuf Nurkic played just 25 minutes before fouling out, finishing with only seven points and 13 rebounds on 2-of-8 from the floor.

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Playoffs Prediction

The over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these two teams and is 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Portland. The over is 13-6 in the Nuggets’ last 19 games as an underdog, is 6-2 in their last eight games overall and is 12-4 in their last 16 games versus a team with a winning record. On the other side, the over is 4-0 in the Trail Blazers last four conference quarterfinals games and is 4-1 in their last five playoff games as a favorite.

NBA PLAYOFFS PREDICTION: NUGGETS/TRAIL BLAZERS OVER 227.5