周一晚，在西部季后赛首轮第二场比赛中，丹佛掘金队以128比109击败波特兰开拓者队。凭借在球馆令人信服的胜利，掘金避免了0-2的赤字，因为系列赛转移到波特兰。
MVP宠儿尼古拉·约基奇一如既往地以38分、8个篮板和5次助攻领跑掘金。尽管巨星后卫达米安·利拉德以42分和10次助攻的成绩爆发，但波特兰队还是被高估了。
38分8篮板5助攻1抢断
第15页共20页第2页共4页第6页共6页pic.twitter.com/GRFcLs4scK
-2021年5月25日
第三场比赛将于周四晚上在莫达中心举行。以下是掘金和东道主开拓者关键对决的三个大胆预测。
1.尼古拉·约基奇三双
乔基奇本赛季获得了16个三双，这使这位年轻的中锋职业生涯获得了57个三双。这位26岁的球员场均积26.4分、10.8个篮板和8.3次助攻，在2020-21赛季占据统治地位的NBA联赛中排名第六。然而，乔基奇的助攻数据在系列赛的前两场比赛中有所下降，每晚仅累积3次。
在第三场比赛中，当掘金试图夺回主场优势时，寻找这位7尺高的球员至少送出10次助攻。当然，乔基奇需要他的队友来做篮。尤其是迈克尔·波特，他必须在弧线后击倒球。他在第二场比赛中以6胜3负的比分从市中心出发，在揭幕战中他只打出了10个三分之一。
-安德鲁·考夫曼2021年5月25日
开拓者已经做出了一致的努力，以减少乔基奇的发挥。他们认识到他可以随意得分，但希望减少传球机会。掘金缺少后卫贾马尔·默里，威尔·巴顿和开拓者想迫使约基奇的队友得分。在第一场比赛中，根据ESPN的统计数据，掘金队在乔基奇的传球中10投1中；信息。不过，在第二场比赛中，掘金能够在这种情况下投篮，这一趋势将在下一场比赛中延续。
上一场比赛中有六个掘金得分上双。即使他们的伤病频发，他们也有足够的射手来帮助乔基奇在第三场比赛中打出10次助攻，他的得分和篮板数据也将是两位数，因为他已经完成了职业生涯第六次季后赛的三双记录。
2.CJ McCollum得分超过30分
开拓者队得分后卫CJ麦科勒姆在系列赛的前两场比赛中都得到了21分。在第一场比赛中，他用了20次投篮，而上一场比赛他仅仅12次射门就达到了这个数字。在第三场比赛中，预计麦考伦会尝试20次投篮，但这次至少会得到30分。
开拓者要想控制系列赛，就得靠麦考伦来提高他的表现，尤其是掘金明智地将注意力集中在利拉德身上。
掘金明智地将注意力集中在利拉德身上。在第二场比赛的上半场，这位后卫得到32分后，掘金在利拉德的防守上部署了前锋阿伦·戈登。戈登限制利拉德下半场得到10分。
戈登帮助达姆在中场休息后取得2/9的命中率和10分
-杰克逊·弗兰克2021年5月25日
由于利拉德面对的是一名更强硬的后卫，开拓者队应该把球更多地交给麦科伦。自5月初下跌33分以来，麦考伦一直没有超过30分，但本可以为本系列赛的剩余部分增加机会。麦科勒姆将迎来一个魔鬼之夜，他将在周四以至少30分的成绩晋级开拓者。
3.开拓者获胜，包揽4分
虽然开拓者队在常规赛中取得的客场胜利多于主场胜利，但季后赛的气氛却完全不同。莫达中心还没有满负荷运转，但开拓者队将以主场观众为生，即使预计只有8000人出席。
-Chris McGowan 2021年5月24日
据BetOnline的oddsmakers称，开拓者目前被列为4分热门。波特兰的阵容深度和丹佛的伤病状况相结合，使得他们不仅有机会赢得比赛，而且有机会扩大比分。
原标题：
3 bold Nuggets-Blazers predictions for crucial Game 3 in Portland
原文：
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 128-109 in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series on Monday night. With the convincing win at Ball Arena, the Nuggets avoided a 0-2 deficit as the series shifts to Portland.
MVP favorite Nikola Jokic led the way, per the usual, for the Nuggets with 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Portland was overmatched, despite superstar guard Damian Lillard exploding for 42 points and 10 assists.
38 points8 rebounds5 assists1 steal
15-of-20 FG2-of-4 3PT6-of-6 FT pic.twitter.com/GRFcLs4scK
— ClutchPoints May 25, 2021
Game 3 takes place on Thursday evening at Moda Center. Here are three bold predictions for the pivotal matchup between the Nuggets and the host Trail Blazers.
1. Nikola Jokic posts triple-double
Jokic compiled 16 triple-doubles this season, giving the young center 57 for his career. The 26-year-old amassed per-game averages of 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists—the sixth-most across the NBA—in a dominant 2020-21 campaign. However, Jokic’s assist figures have dipped in the first two contests of the series, accumulating just three per night.浦和红钻直播
In Game 3, look for the 7-footer to dish out at least 10 assists as the Nuggets seek to reclaim homecourt advantage. Of course, Jokic needs his teammates to make baskets. Michael Porter Jr., in particular, has to knock down shots from behind the arc. He went 3-for-6 from downtown in Game 2 after hitting just 1-of-10 treys in the series opener.
— Andrew Kauffman May 25, 2021
The Trail Blazers have made a concerted effort to curtail Jokic’s playmaking. They recognize he can score at will, but want to decrease his passing opportunities. The Nuggets are shorthanded—devoid of guards Jamal Murray and Will Barton—and the Trail Blazers want to force Jokic’s teammates to score. In Game 1, the Nuggets shot just 1-for-10 on passes from Jokic, per ESPN Stats & Information. However, the Nuggets were able to make shots in those situations in Game 2, a trend that will continue upward next contest.
Six Nuggets scored in double figures last contest. Even with their rash of injuries, they have enough shotmakers to enable Jokic to hit the 10-assist mark in Game 3. His scoring and rebounding figures will be in the double figures, too, as he logs his sixth career playoff triple-double.
2. CJ McCollum scores 30+ points
Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum has produced 21 points in each of the first two games of the series. It took him 20 shots to muster that total in Game 1, whereas he hit that figure last game on just 12 field goal attempts. Come Game 3, expect McCollum to attempt around 20 shots, but come away with at least 30 points this time around.
For the Trail Blazers to seize control of the series, it will be on McCollum to step up his output, especially with the Nuggets wisely focusing their attention on Lillard.
The Nuggets are wisely focusing on Lillard. After the guard scored 32 points in the first half of Game 2, the Nuggets deployed forward Aaron Gordon on Lillard defensively. Gordon limited Lillard to 10 second-half points.
Gordon helped hold Dame to 2/9 shooting and 10 points after halftime: pic.twitter.com/1XHhIglcCD
— Jackson Frank May 25, 2021
With Lillard facing a tougher defender, the Trail Blazers should put the ball in McCollum’s hands more. McCollum hasn’t eclipsed 30 points since dropping 33 in early May, but could have added opportunities for the remainder of the series. McCollum is due for a monster evening and he comes through for the Trail Blazers with at least 30 points on Thursday.
3. Trail Blazers win, cover 4-point spread
While the Trail Blazers registered more road wins than home victories in the regular season, the playoffs are a whole different atmosphere. The Moda Center still won’t be in full capacity, but the Trail Blazers will feed off their home crowd, even if it’s expected to be only 8,000 in attendance.
— Chris McGowan May 24, 2021
The Trail Blazers are currently listed as 4-point favorites, according to the oddsmakers at BetOnline. Portland’s roster depth—aided by Denver’s injury situation—gives it the edge to not only win the game, but cover the spread.
