Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for December 8 (Denver Grinds Out Road Win)

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Game Info

• Date: Thursday, December 8, 2022
• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Moda Center -- Portland, Oregon
• Coverage: NBA TV

The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers square off in a Western Conference clash in the finale of Thursday's three-game slate. Only one game separates the teams in the standings, making this a pivotal contest for both sides.

The Nuggets will try to snap their three-game losing streak while the Blazers look to extend their winning streak to three in a row, setting up what should be an exciting game to cap off Thursday's schedule.

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Odds & Spread

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: DEN: (-102) | POR: (-116)
• Spread: DEN: +1 (-110) | POR: -1 (-110)
• Total: 227.5 -- Over: (-112) | Under: (-108)

The odds are about as close as can be for this game, with the Trail Blazers favored by a hair on both the spread and moneyline. The total for this game is 227.5 points, which is in the middle of Thursday's contests.

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Betting Trends

• The Nuggets are 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven games against the Trail Blazers.
• The total has gone over in 35 of the last 52 meetings between these two teams.
• The Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games.

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Prediction & Pick

This game features a showdown between two of the best players in the game right now in Nikola Jokic and Damian Lillard. Lillard returned on Monday from a seven-game absence and should be good to go after scoring 21 points in 32 minutes of action.

As mentioned, the Nuggets have hit a brief rough patch lately but have been the slightly stronger team overall this season. Their three-game skid is just the second time they've lost consecutive games this year, so they're surely eager to end that.

The Blazers, on the other hand, played their best game in weeks during Lillard's return. They're just 3-7 over their last 10, though, so momentum isn't on their side, either.

This one could go either way, as seen in the tight odds. I think Denver bounces back with a win though.

Final Score Prediction: Nuggets: 117 | Trail Blazers: 114

Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Best Bet

I'm giving the edge to the Nuggets because they have the better offense. Both teams are subpar defensively, ranking bottom 10 in defensive efficiency, so that's essentially a wash.

Denver holds a clear advantage on offense, however, ranking fifth in offensive rating while Portland is 12th. The Blazers would undoubtedly rank higher if Lillard hadn't missed so much time this season, but the difference is just enough to make me side with the Nuggets' moneyline (which has slightly better odds than the spread).

Bet: Denver Nuggets Moneyline (-102)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.