Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets Friday NBA injury report, odds, pick: Nikola Jokic eyes third straight triple-double and Michael Porter Jr. returns from injury

Because the NBA goes dark on Christmas Eve – I believe the last day of the regular season without any games other than during the All-Star break – there are a whopping 14 games on Friday. This writer is focused on Portland at Denver as Nuggets star and two-time reigning league MVP has been absolutely spectacular this week as he looks for a third straight triple-double. There are no odds up for Denver as of this writing (probably around +400 for a Jokic triple-double) because of the uncertain status of fellow starter Jamal Murray, but the Nugs will get back Michael Porter Jr. and are -4.5 at Caesars Sportsbook.

Last Thursday, Jokic was +1600 at the book to join Bill Russell (1960-63), Wilt Chamberlain (1965-68) and Larry Bird (1983-86) to win three straight MVPs – I'm a huge Bulls fan and actually forgot that Michael Jordan didn't do that, even though he clearly should have.

On Sunday in a win over Charlotte, Jokic had 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists to join Chamberlain (four times) and Elgin Baylor (once) as the only players with at least 35 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. Jokic, who is still only 27, followed that up with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in Tuesday's win over Memphis in a matchup between the top two teams in the Western Conference.

It was Jokic's sixth triple-double of the season and 82nd of his career (most ever by a center), and he joined Bird and Magic Johnson -- who did it in Game 6 of the 1982 NBA Finals -- as the only players to finish with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in a game.

On the season, Jokic is averaging a near triple-double of 24.7 points (on 61.7% shooting), 11.0 rebounds and 9.2 assists. The shooting percentage and assists would be career highs. He's now a +700 fourth favorite for MVP behind the Celtics' Jayson Tatum (+260), Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (+280) and Mavericks' Luka Doncic (+375). Jokic may not win simply due to voter fatigue – that's why Jordan only has five MVPs instead of perhaps 10.

Denver is 1-1 against the Blazers this season, both played in Portland. Jokic just missed a triple-double on Dec. 8 in a 121-120 win, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. The Nuggets are listing Murray as questionable but Porter Jr. is not on the injury report. Murray seems likely to play after missing one game with an ankle injury and practicing Thursday.

Getting Porter Jr. back will be huge as he has missed 13 games in a row with a left heel injury and has all the talent in the world. He's just brittle, having totaled 25 games this season and last.

At full strength, the Nuggets absolutely are title contenders. They have only played 18 combined games with Murray, Porter and Aaron Gordon all healthy since Gordon was acquired from Orlando in late March 2021. Denver is +600 to win the West and +1400 to win the franchise's first NBA title. 

NBA pick: Nuggets at -190.

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