The Portland Trail Blazers (25-36) kick off a three-game road trip Wednesday when they face the Phoenix Suns (49-12). Tip-off is 10 p.m. ET at Footprint Center. Below, we look at the Trail Blazers vs. Suns odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Portland has lost two games in a row after closing out the first half of the season with four straight wins. Both losses were by more than 30 points.
The Suns still have the best record in the NBA but have lost two games in a row. They will be without G Chris Paul for the next six to eight weeks because of a thumb injury.
This is the fourth time the two teams have played this season. The Suns have won two of three games so far.
Trail Blazers at Suns odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:31 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Trail Blazers +700 (bet $100 to win $700) | Suns -1200 (bet $1,200 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Trail Blazers +13.5 (-115) | Suns -13.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
Trail Blazers at Suns key injuries
Trail Blazers
- G Eric Bledsoe (Achilles) out
- G Joe Ingles (knee) out
- G Damian Lillard (core) out
- F Nassir Little (shoulder) out
- C Jusuf Nurkic (foot) out
- F Justise Winslow (Achilles) out
Suns
- C Frank Kaminsky (knee) out
- G Chris Paul (thumb) out
- G Cameron Payne (wrist) probable
- F Dario Saric (knee) out
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Trail Blazers at Suns odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Suns 112, Trail Blazers 95
Money line
PASS on the money line.
Despite the Suns’ two straight losses, they should get Payne back into the lineup and that will move G Devin Booker back into an off-the-ball role and increase the pace of play. The Suns are tied for the most home wins in the league with 26, while the Blazers are 9-18 on the road have lost both games since the All-Star break by more than 30 points.
The Blazers are a bad bet on the road and the Suns are a bad value.
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Against the spread
The Blazers have been bad since coming back from the All-Star Break, losing by an average of 34.5 points in their last two games.
The Suns have dropped two straight games for only the third time this season and have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games. They are 15-18 ATS at home this year, but the Blazers are only 10-17 ATS on the road.
Everything points to a Suns blowout. They are healthy minus Paul, and Payne will be in the lineup for the first time in more than a month.
They have the advantage at basically every position with so many Blazers starters out.
Take the SUNS -13.5 (-107).
Over/Under
The Blazers averaged 116.0 points in their four-game winning streak before the All-Star break, but aside from those four games, they have failed to score 100 points in six of their last seven.
The Suns have averaged 116.6 points in their last 10 games.
Take UNDER 227.5 (-115).
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