Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets Game 2: Prediction Against The Spread, Odds, TV Channel

The second-round series between the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets hasn’t gotten much attention during the conference semifinals, but it will take center stage Wednesday when the two teams meet in the only NBA playoff game of the night.

Denver has a 1-0 series lead after defeating Portland in the opener Monday. The Nuggets will look to maintain home-court advantage when they host the Blazers in Game 2.

Game 2 is scheduled to start Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EDT. TNT will have the TV broadcast.

The Nuggets entered the series as slight favorites, though the Blazers were given a better chance to pull off the upset than any underdog in the second round. That’s in large part because Portland cruised past the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, needing just five games to eliminate Russell Westbrook and Co.

The playoff inexperience of Denver showed last round when they needed seven games to defeat the San Antonio Spurs. Still, the Nuggets are the West’s No.2 seed for a reason, proving to be a difficult matchup for Portland in Game 1.

Nikola Jokic continued to put up MVP-caliber numbers with 37 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in the team’s 121-113 win. Jamal Murray added 23 points and eight assists on 15 field-goal attempts.

Denver survived a 39-point barrage from Damian Lillard. CJ McCollum scored just 16 points on 17 shots.

Portland is a four-point underdog, according to the betting line at OddsShark. The total is 219.5.

You can count on Jokic having another big night, especially when a banged-up Enes Kanter will be logging most of Portland's minutes at center. But it might be the two backcourts that ultimately decide Game 2.

Lillard cemented his spot as a top-10 NBA player with an incredible first round. Don't be surprised if he scores another 39 points Wednesday night.

The odds of Murray outplaying McCollum again aren't nearly as high. Denver's point guard has been inconsistent this postseason, and he could be on track for another poor shooting night. McCollum is shooting 42.2 percent from three-point range in the playoffs.

The Blazers have a good chance to steal one on the road and even up this series.

Prediction against the spread: Portland over Denver, 116-111