Respect has been hard to come by for the Denver Nuggets, who look to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history as they open their first-round series Saturday night against visiting Portland. The Nuggets rolled to a 47-win season to earn the No. 3 seed in the West behind the prohibitive MVP favorite – and yet, they’re just a minuscule fave against a Trail Blazers team that can score with the best of them, but has struggled mightily on defence.

Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets NBA Playoff Odds

Oddsmakers like this one as a near-toss-up, with the host Nuggets only favoured by a point. And while experts like Portland’s chances of an upset here, the betting public is on the hosts at a 57-percent clip. The Nuggets enter the playoffs with 13 wins over their previous 18 games but have covered just two of their last six contests. The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, own a 4-1 ATS record over their past five games and own an identical ATS mark in their last five vs. Denver.

The total for Saturday’s series curtain raiser is set at 227.5, with a whopping 83 percent of Sports Interaction customers siding with the Over. The Nuggets were one of the more reliable Over plays in the NBA this season, going 39-32-1 O/U – and they’ve converted the Over in 12 of their last 18 head-to-head meetings with the Trail Blazers. But Portland is trending in the opposite direction entering the weekend, having cashed the Under in four of their last six.

Portland Trail Blazers

High-scoring games were a regular season staple for the Blazers, who finished fifth in the NBA in points per game (116.1) but 27th in scoring defence (115.5). Don’t expect them to suddenly get better on the defensive end, instead relying on a deep and high-powered offence anchored by guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum and trade deadline acquisition Norman Powell. The trio combined to average 68.9 points and will be a big matchup problem for Denver.

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic has won plenty of games by himself this season, sitting as the betting favourite to win MVP honors after averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.0 assists. And the reality is, he’s going to have to shoulder an enormous load in this series with Nuggets No. 2 option Jamal Murray out for the season with a torn ACL. With untested forward Michael Porter Jr. and a host of role players behind him, look for Jokic to improve on his regular-season stats in this series.

NBA Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Trail Blazers Team Leaders

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 28.75
Assists	Damian Lillard 7.54
Rebounds	Enes Kanter 11.04
FG%	Enes Kanter 60.4
Steals	Robert Covington 1.44
Blocks	Robert Covington 1.2

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.36
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.32
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10.83
FG%	Nikola Jokic 56.6
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.33
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.08

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 34.33
Assists	Damian Lillard 10.17
Rebounds	Jusuf Nurkic 10.33
FG%	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 80
Steals	Robert Covington 1.5
Blocks	Jusuf Nurkic 1.17

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.8
Assists	Monte Morris 5.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.6
FG%	Vlatko Cancar 100
Steals	Facundo Campazzo 1.4
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.25

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 28.75
Assists	Damian Lillard 7.54
Rebounds	Enes Kanter 11.04
FG%	Enes Kanter 60.4
Steals	Robert Covington 1.44
Blocks	Robert Covington 1.2

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.36
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.32
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10.83
FG%	Nikola Jokic 56.6
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.33
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.08

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 34.33
Assists	Damian Lillard 10.17
Rebounds	Jusuf Nurkic 10.33
FG%	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 80
Steals	Robert Covington 1.5
Blocks	Jusuf Nurkic 1.17

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.8
Assists	Monte Morris 5.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.6
FG%	Vlatko Cancar 100
Steals	Facundo Campazzo 1.4
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.25

Injuries

Portland

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Prob Tues Thumb - 31 / 05 / 21

Nassir Little (SF)

Ques Sun Back - 11 / 05 / 21

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Ques Wed Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21

Norman Powell (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 04 / 05 / 21

Norman Powell (SG)

Ques Mon Knee - 03 / 05 / 21

Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)

Ques Fri Hip - 21 / 04 / 21

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Out Tues Rest - 19 / 04 / 21

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Out Sat Rest - 10 / 04 / 21

Norman Powell (SG)

Prob Thurs Toe - 07 / 04 / 21

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Prob Thurs Knee - 05 / 04 / 21

Denver

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 09 / 06 / 21

Austin Rivers (PG)

Prob Sat Illness - 21 / 05 / 21

Paul Millsap (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Facundo Campazzo (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Monte Morris (PG)

Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 05 / 21

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 05 / 21

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Tues Calf - 09 / 05 / 21

PJ Dozier (SG)

Late June Groin - 04 / 05 / 21

Zeke Nnaji (PF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 30 / 04 / 21

Injuries

Portland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Prob Tues	Thumb - 31 / 05 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Nurkic has a left thumb contusion, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Nassir Little (SF)	Ques Sun	Back - 11 / 05 / 21	6-4	6-4	+ -
Little has missed the previous two games with back spasms, and it is undetermined if he will take the court versus the Nuggets on Sunday.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21	7-5	7-5	+ -
Anthony has sat out the last two games with a sprained right ankle, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Wednesday's tilt against the Jazz.
Norman Powell (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 04 / 05 / 21	7-6	8-5	+ -
Powell missed the last game with a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will face the Lakers on Friday.
Norman Powell (SG)	Ques Mon	Knee - 03 / 05 / 21	8-6	9-5	+ -
Powell is tending to right knee patellar tendinopathy, and it is unknown if he will be available to face the Trail Blazers on Monday.
Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)	Ques Fri	Hip - 21 / 04 / 21	13-9	13-9	+ -
Jones Jr. missed the last game due to a right hip contusion, and it is uncertain if he will suit up for Friday's clash with the Grizzlies.
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 19 / 04 / 21	13-9	13-9	+ -
Nurkic will not be available for Tuesday's showdown with the Clippers as he will receive a day of rest.
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Out Sat	Rest - 10 / 04 / 21	15-12	14-13	+ -
Nurkic will not be available for Saturday's clash with the Pistons as he will receive a day of rest.
Norman Powell (SG)	Prob Thurs	Toe - 07 / 04 / 21	16-13	15-14	+ -
Powell is bothered by left big toe inflammation, but he is likely to be active Thursday versus the Jazz.
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 05 / 04 / 21	16-13	15-14	+ -
Nurkic was held out of the last game due to right knee inflammation, but it is projected that he will suit up Thursday against the Jazz.

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 09 / 06 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Porter Jr. is expected to take on the Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference second round despite a back injury.
Austin Rivers (PG)	Prob Sat	Illness - 21 / 05 / 21	4-6	7-3	+ -
Rivers is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Paul Millsap (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Millsap will not take the court versus the Pistons on Friday as he will be handed a day of rest.
Facundo Campazzo (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Campazzo will be held out of the lineup against the Pistons on Friday as he will receive a day of rest.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Gordon will not be available for Friday's matchup with the Pistons as he will be given a day of rest.
Monte Morris (PG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 13 / 05 / 21	6-7	8-5	+ -
Morris will not be available for Thursday's contest versus the Timberwolves as he will be given a day of rest.
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Out Thurs	Rest - 13 / 05 / 21	6-7	8-5	+ -
Porter Jr. will not take the court against the Timberwolves on Thursday as he will receive a day of rest.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Tues	Calf - 09 / 05 / 21	6-9	10-5	+ -
Gordon is dealing with right calf tightness, but he is likely to suit up for Tuesday's battle against the Hornets.
PJ Dozier (SG)	Late June	Groin - 04 / 05 / 21	8-10	10-8	+ -
Dozier is sidelined with a right adductor strain, and he is not expected to be available until the later part of June.
Zeke Nnaji (PF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 30 / 04 / 21	9-11	11-9	+ -
Nnaji has sat out the previous four games due to a sprained left ankle, and it is up in the air if he will take the court versus the Nets on Saturday.