The Portland Trail Blazers (2-2) host the Los Angeles Clippers (1-3) Friday for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off at Moda Center. Below, we look at the Clippers vs. Trail Blazers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
L.A. was upset 92-79 as an 8-point home favorite Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a dreadful shooting display from the Clippers who made just 35.6% of their field goals and were 22.0% from three.
Portland rallied back from a first-half deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-96 Wednesday. The Trail Blazers outscored the Grizzlies 65-39 in the second half and SG C.J. McCollum scored a game-high 25 points.
The Clippers beat the Trail Blazers by 30 points (116-86) Monday as 2.5-point home favorites. L.A. outshot Portland 47.3-37.6% from the field and had 13 fewer turnovers (30-17).
The Clippers have beaten the Trail Blazers in seven consecutive meetings (6-1 against the spread) and the Over is 4-3 in those contests.
Clippers at Trail Blazers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Clippers +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Trail Blazers -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Clippers +3.5 (-115) | Trail Blazers -3.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 222.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Clippers at Trail Blazers key injuries
Clippers
- PF Marcus Morris (knee) out
- SF Kawhi Leonard (knee) out
- C Serge Ibaka (back) out
Trail Blazers
- SF Norman Powell (knee) questionable
Clippers at Trail Blazers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Trail Blazers 117, Clippers 110
Money line
PASS with a slight “lean” to the Trail Blazers (-155) because it’s on the fringe of my price range for Portland in this spot.
I’ll be using the “zig-zag theory” handicapping angle for this Clippers-Trail Blazers matchup. L.A. crushed Portland earlier this week and, generally, teams in the NBA don’t lose two games to the same opponent in such a short period of time.
The Trail Blazers should get it done and if their money line heads south of -140 then I’d bet Portland straight-up.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the TRAIL BLAZERS -3.5 (-107) because of said “zig-zag theory” and since there’s been “sharp line movement” heading in Portland’s direction.
This game opened with the Trail Blazers laying -2.5 but was quickly steamed up by both sides of the market. However, I’m leery about following a crowd of people when sports betting. The contrarian mindset is much more profitable in this racket.
I put more weight into this line movement because L.A. has owned Portland in recent seasons and just had a nice little playoff run with the same team. My assumption is the Clippers plus the points are the sucker play.
My guess is that the “wiseguys” are backing the Trail Blazers since they are a far better 3-point shooting team. Portland is third in effective field goal shooting (eFG%) and L.A. ranks 26th in eFG%.
While the public is taking the Trail Blazers because of “recency bias”. The Clippers just lost by double digits at home to a lowly Cavaliers team and the Trail Blazers waxed a feisty Grizzlies squad.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the OVER 222.5 (-108) because of a few basketball-based factors. However, I’d wait to make a bet because the total opened at 225.5 and is moving towards us. My hesitancy with the Over in this spot is the “Pros” are betting the Under while the public is backing the Over.
Both teams play at a top-10 pace and the Trail Blazers attempt the eighth-highest volume of 3-pointers while the Clippers rank right behind them at ninth.
Each team could get easy easy baskets here. Portland ranks eighth in offensive FT/FGA rate and L.A. ranks dead-last in defensive FT/FGA rate. Also, the Clippers force the highest rate of turnovers and the Trail Blazers ranks 23rd in offensive turnover rate.
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