The San Antonio Spurs (7-6) are in the Rose City Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a 3 p.m. ET tip-off against the Portland Trail Blazers (8-5) at the Moda Center. Below, we analyze the Spurs-Trail Blazers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
San Antonio just split a two-game set at home with the Houston Rockets, losing the first 109-105 Thursday and winning the second 103-91 Saturday. The Spurs shot poorly in both games but won the second contest because they did two things well they generally don’t: Rebound and force turnovers. The Spurs were even in rebound differential (last in opponent’s rebounds per game) and forced 23 Rockets turnovers Saturday.
Portland’s defense kicked in during the second half of a 112-106 win over the Atlanta Hawks Saturday. The Trail Blazers erased a seven-point halftime deficit in part by holding the Hawks to 40 second-half points. SG C.J. McCollum sat out the second half with a sprained foot and is out Monday. While McCollum was out, PG Damian Lillard increased his aggressiveness, shooting eight of his 12 free throws in the second half.
The Trail Blazers covered all three meetings with the Spurs last season (2-1 outright). However, McCollum averaged 26 points on 47% shooting (47.8% from 3) with a 119 offensive rating in those three games vs. San Antonio.
Spurs at Trail Blazers: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Spurs -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Trail Blazers +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Spurs -1.5 (-110) | Trail Blazers +1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 224.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Spurs at Trail Blazers: Key Injuries
Spurs
- SG Derrick White (toe) out
Trail Blazers
- SG C.J. McCollum (foot) out
Special NBA Betting Promotion!
Place a $1 bet on either team’s money line, WIN an additional $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a 3-pointer during the game today. Promotion available in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV. IA and PA residents, don’t miss BetMGM‘s risk-free, first-bet offer! MI residents, BetMGM is coming to your state soon — register early for special promotion.
Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!
Spurs at Trail Blazers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Spurs 112, Trail Blazers 108
Money line (ML)
These teams are neck and neck in net rating (Portland is 13th and San Antonio 14th), but these rankings factor in McCollum and C Jusuf Nurkic, neither will be playing on MLK Day.
The Spurs historically have done a pretty good job defending Lillard: Dame Time has scored 30-plus points in just seven out of his 25 career games vs. the Spurs. San Antonio PG Dejounte Murray has the best defensive rating on the starting lineup and most defensive win shares on the team.
Plus, you have the added revenge motivation for Spurs PF LaMarcus Aldridge, who was a four-time All-Star during his nine-year stint in Portland. I’m rolling with the SPURS (-120) for 1.25 units.
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS ON THE SPREAD.
Over/Under (O/U)
If the total is in the 220s, I lean UNDER 224.5 (-110) for a quarter-unit. These teams have a combined 10-16 O/U record and San Antonio has the ninth-best defensive rating. It’s only a lean though because the Over has cashed in eight of the previous nine Spurs-Trail Blazers games.
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Hoops Hype:
- Rumors: Spurs | Trail Blazers
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]