The Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers collide at the Moda Center on Friday night. Here’s a Trail Blazers vs. Clippers Prediction. This article will include a Trail Blazers vs. Clippers Pick.
Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Clippers have been in pretty good shape as they’ve won seven of their last 10 games overall, but they will be hoping for a better effort in this one after having their two-game win streak snapped by the Thunder in a 128-110 loss on Wednesday. Kawhi Leonard led the team with 20 points, Kobe Sanders added 17 points off the bench, and Jordan Miller and Brook Lopez each scored 16 points. As a team, the Clippers shot 47 percent from the field and 14 of 32 from the 3-point line as they struggled to score from the start and fell behind by 20 points going into halftime, which was always too much for the Clippers to overcome as they allowed the Thunder to shoot 58 percent from the field for the entire game.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have been in decent shape, as they’ve won eight of their last 12 games overall, but they are looking to avoid a third straight defeat after falling short to the shorthanded Spurs in a 112-101 road defeat on Wednesday. Deni Avdija led the team with 29 points, six rebounds and six assists on 13 of 21 shooting; Scoot Henderson added 20 points, while Jrue Holiday tallied 13 points with 10 rebounds and six assists. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 45 percent from the field and 12 of 37 from the 3-point line as they worked hard to cut an early 15-point deficit to just four points, but they couldn’t get over the hump on a cold shooting night.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Trail Blazers have won each of their last 10 games as favorites following a loss.
- The Clippers have lost each of their last six games against Northwest Division opponents following a loss.
- The Trail Blazers have covered the spread in each of their last four games as favorites against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven road games.
Why the Los Angeles Clippers will win
- The Clippers have won each of their last seven road games against the Trail Blazers.
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last seven games at Moda Center against Clippers teams that held a winning record.
- The road team has covered the spread in each of the last four games between the Clippers and Trail Blazers.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five home games against Clippers teams that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Trail Blazers’ last eight games as home favorites following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Clippers’ last four games as underdogs following a home loss has gone UNDER the total points line.
Portland Trail Blazers Player Facts
- Donovan Clingan ranks 1st in the league for second-chance points (326) this season.
- Robert Williams III ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for blocks per 36 minutes (3.2) this season.
Los Angeles Clippers Player Facts
- Kawhi Leonard is one of only two qualified players in the league to be leading their team in rebounds per game (6.3) and free-throw percentage (89.1%) this season.
- John Collins ranks 1st amongst qualified Centers for 3P% (41.2%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent steals per game this season (10.9).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for turnovers per game this season (17.4).
- The Clippers rank 30th in the league for assists per game this season (23.8).
- The Clippers rank 1st in the league for free throw percentage this season (82.1%).
Trail Blazers vs Clippers Prediction
The Clippers are still missing Bradley Beal and Isaiah Jackson, while the Trail Blazers have ruled out Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe and Vit Krejci again. The Clippers lead the season series by 2-1, but the Trail Blazers won the last meeting by 114-104 back on Mar 31. It’s hard to split these two squads at the moment, as they’ve both pretty evenly matched when you look at the form guide. You can make an argument for either side, but I am leaning towards the Trail Blazers to get the job done in a close one at home.