Portland Trail Blazers (8-15) vs. LA Lakers (12-11)
December 8, 2024 9:30 pm EDT
The Line: LA Lakers -8.5; Over/Under: +223.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers duke it out at the crypto.com Arena on Sunday night. Here’s an LA Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction. This article will include an LA Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers Pick.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have been in poor form as they’ve lost seven of their last nine games overall and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting smashed by the Jazz in an ugly 141-99 home defeat on Friday. Jerami Grant and Dalano Banton led the team with 19 points each while Anfernee Simons and Kris Murray scored 14 points each.
As a team, the Trail Blazers shot just 38 percent from the field and 14 of 47 from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep pace from the tipoff and never looked like they had a chance after falling behind by 67-44 going into halftime. Shaedon Sharpe shot just three of 12 from the field and one of eight from the 3-point line while Deni Avdija shot just two of nine to finish with six points.
Los Angeles Lakers
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have been in a real slump as they’ve lost seven of their last nine games overall and they will be hoping to snap a three-game skid after falling painfully short to the Hawks in a 134-132 overtime road defeat on Friday. LeBron James led the team with a triple-double of 39 points with 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Anthony Davis added 38 points with 10 rebounds and eight assists while Dalton Knecht chipped in with 14 points.
As a team, the Lakers shot 51 percent from the field and 16 of 35 from the 3-point line as they forced overtime thanks to a clutch shot from James with just 12.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, only to suffer a heartbreaking defeat as the Hawks’ Trae Young made the game-winner with just 8.0 seconds left in overtime.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last 12 night games at Crypto.com Arena.
- The Lakers have won each of their last 10 home games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last nine games as underdogs after losing as favorites.
- The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last four games against the Trail Blazers following a road loss.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Lakers’ last six games against Western Conference opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Trail Blazers’ last six games at Crypto.com Arena have gone OVER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Lakers rank T1st in the league for Q2 win percentage this season (65.2%).
- The Lakers rank 29th in the league for opponent field goal percentage this season (48.7%).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (6.7).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for Q1 points per game this season (23.5).
LA Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
The Trail Blazers are still missing Matisse Thybulle and they have Scoot Henderson listed as questionable, while the Lakers have ruled out Austin Reaves again and they have LeBron James listed as questionable. The Trail Blazers haven’t been able to build any momentum this season and they will surely be feeling embarrassed after getting smashed by the struggling Jazz by 42 points in their last game. Meanwhile, the Lakers have been stuck in a rut for a while now and they will be kicking themselves after losing to the Hawks in overtime on Friday. The line is hefty for this one, but the Lakers are desperate for a win to get their season back on track and I think they get it in front of their home fans.
