The set-up: Damian Lillard and the Blazers are red hot right now, as the star guard has helped propel his team to a 4-0 run of late. The Nuggets will be throwing everything they have at Lillard to slow him down and I think the guard finally takes an offensive step back here in the thin air of Denver. The Nuggets on the other hand beat both the Jazz and the Bucks, before then falling to a hungry Pistons team on the road in OT last time out. Portland does play with the double revenge factor here after losing both games to the Nuggets this season, but as mentioned off the top, this one has the feel of more of a "war" than a run and gun "shootout" in my opinion.

The pick: Note as well that Portland has seen the total go under the number in 17 of its last 26 off a win vs. a division rival (including in three of four this season), while Denver has seen the total dip below the posted number in seven of nine already this season as a home favorite of six points or less. For all the reasons listed above, expect this one to stay under once its all said and done.

10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the UNDER Blazers/Nuggets.