This is a 10* NORTHWEST TOW on the UNDER Nuggets/Blazers.

Both teams have been involved in several higher-scoring games of late, but I'm predicting much more of a defensive affair here on Saturday.

Denver is 21-15 on the road. It's coming off a 113-100 win over New York. It returns home for five straight after this. It beat Portland 127-112 in February, but everything points to a much tighter and defensive affair this time around.

The Blazers enters off five straight losses, and note that Portland has seen the total go UNDER the number in eight of its last 12 after five or more SU losses in a row.

Portland fell 125-117 here at home to the Clippers just last night, so fatigue will also be an issue for the home side here in the second game of the back-to-back scenario.

All of these different situational factors point to this total staying well UNDER the posted number once the final horn sounds.

Good luck, NP