Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction & Picks - NBA

Prediction published on 3/21/25, 1:48 AM  by Lou Aguila | Modified on 3/21/25 at 1:50 AM in NBA Picks

Winners in their last three games, the Portland Trail Blazers plan to keep on fighting for a play-in spot as they play host to the Denver Nuggets at Moda Center on Friday.

The Blazers are still in the hunt for a play-in spot in the West as the season enters its homestretch. Deni Avdija backs up his case as a future cornerstone of the team after posting 31 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists in a 115-99 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He and point guard Anfernee Simons have emerged as the leaders of this young and hungry Blazers squad that is trying to make the playoffs for the first time since trading All-Star Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets have gone through a roller-coaster stretch since racking up 9 wins in a row in February. Nikola Jokic has sat out the last two games with an ankle injury, while key player Jamal Murray and Christian Braun are also dealing fitness issues. The Nuggets are 1-1 in this recent run without their MVP, trouncing the Golden State Warriors 114-105 and then crashing against the LA Lakers 108-120.