Blazers on Fire – Portland at Denver

NBA Sweet Treat – Roy and Scorching Blazers Look Good Against Head Case Anthony, Nuggets

The Portland Trail Blazers (38-22 SU, 30-29 ATS, 28-30-1 O/U) won their third consecutive game and sixth in eight outings by narrowly beating the Indiana Pacers 107-105 on Wednesday. The Blazers failed to cover the 10-point spread just as I predicted in the BetOnline Locker Room that day while the 212 combined points played over the posted O/U total of 208 points.

All-star shooting guard Brandon Roy continued his stellar play, scoring a game-high 28 points while power forward LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and seven rebounds.

The Denver Nuggets (39-22 SU, 32-28-1 ATS, 32-29 O/U) dropped their second consecutive game on Tuesday, falling to the Detroit Pistons 105-100 while failing to cover the spread as 3-point road underdogs despite getting a season-high 34 points from veteran point guard Chauncey Billups.

The final score went over the 189-point O/U total as Nuggets mercurial forward Carmelo Anthony sat out due to a team-imposed suspension for failing to come out of the Nuggets 100-94 loss to Indiana on Sunday after head coach George Karl tried to sub in backup forward Linas Kleizas for Anthony.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Pick.

• Portland is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
• The total has gone OVER in 9 of Portland’s last 12 games when playing on the road against Denver
• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Portland’s last 10 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland’s last 6 games when playing Denver
• Denver is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Portland
• Denver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
• Denver is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games when playing Portland
• The total has gone OVER in 9 of Denver’s last 12 games when playing at home against Portland

NBA Odds:

• Portland Trailblazers +7 -110
• Denver Nuggets -7 -110
• Over 199½ -110
• Under 199½ -110

Analysis: I don’t think this pick requires much guesswork NBA sports betting enthusiasts with the Blazers getting seven big points and playing stellar basketball even without oft-injured center Greg Oden.

The Blazers snapped a three-game ATS losing streak to the Nuggets last December and should make it two ATS covers in a row tonight. The Under also looks like a solid wager with these two teams going under their set O/U totals in three of the last four meetings and barely creeping over the O/U total in overtime in the other contest.

NBA Free Picks: Blazers +7 Points/Under 199½ Total Points