The schedule, times, and TV broadcasts for the first-round 2021 NBA Playoffs series between the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets has been released. Portland and Denver will tip off Game 1 of the best-of-seven matchup this Saturday, May 22nd at 7:30 PM, Pacific. That game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Here is the schedule as we have it:
- Game 1 Saturday 5/22 7:30 PM PT, ESPN
- Game 2 Monday 5/24 7:00 PM PT, TNT
- Game 3 Thursday 5/27 7:30 PM PT, NBATV
- Game 4 Saturday 5/29 1:00 PM PT, TNT
- Game 5 (if necessary) Tuesday 6/1, Time/TV TBD
- Game 6 (if necessary) Thursday 6/3, Time/TV TBD
- Game 7 (if necessary) Saturday 6/5, Time/TV TBD
Because of the results of the NBA Play-In Tournament on Wednesday night, we now know that the Los Angeles Lakers have earned the 7th seed in the Western Conference. Whomever wins the Portland-Denver series will face the winner of the first-round series between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.
Denver is out to make up for these teams' contest on Sunday. The Trail Blazers had enough points to win and then some against Denver, taking their matchup 132-116. Portland got their victory on the backs of several key players, and it was center Jusuf Nurkic out in front dropping a double-double on 20 points and 13 rebounds. Nurkic's performance made up for a slower game against the Phoenix Suns last week.
Portland's win lifted them to 42-30 while Denver's loss dropped them down to 47-25. We'll see if Portland can repeat their recent success or if Denver bounces back and reverse their fortune.
How To Watch Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Live
- When: Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Ball Arena -- Denver, Colorado
- TV: ESPN
- Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds
The Nuggets are a slight 1-point favorite against the Trail Blazers, according to the latest NBA odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Nuggets as a 2-point favorite.
Over/Under: -111