The San Antonio Spurs invade the Moda Center to do battle with the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 on Friday night. Here’s a Trail Blazers vs. Spurs Prediction. This article will include a Trail Blazers vs. Spurs Pick.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview
The San Antonio Spurs were feeling pretty good after taking the series opener with a comfortable win, but the series got a real shake-up in Game 2, where the Spurs lost by 106-103 on Tuesday. Stephon Castle led the team in scoring with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists; De’Aaron Fox added 17 points while Devin Vassell chipped in with 16 points and 12 rebounds. As a team, the Spurs shot 44 percent from the field and seven of 24 from the 3-point line as they suffered a huge blow in the second quarter, where they lost Victor Wembanyama to a nasty concussion, but they looked to be in control when they built a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter before they went ice-cold and scored just five points in the final 6:40 to allow the Trail Blazers off the hook in the end. Julian Champagnie had a quiet game of just nine points, while Victor Wembanyama scored just five points before he left the game.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers needed to respond after dropping the series opener and they did that with a gritty win over the Spurs in Game 2 on Tuesday. Scoot Henderson led the team with 31 points on 11 of 17 shooting; Jrue Holiday added 16 points with nine assists, while Deni Avdija chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 43 percent from the field and 13 of 38 from the 3-point line as they squandered an early lead and looked to be in trouble after falling behind by 14 points early in the fourth quarter, but that’s where they locked in and they outscored the Spurs by 27-10 in the final 8:18 of the fourth quarter to escape with the crucial road win. Jerami Grant had a night to forget as he scored just five points on one of eight shots off the bench.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Trail Blazers have won four of their last five games as home underdogs against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Spurs have lost eight of their last nine playoff road games.
- The Trail Blazers have covered the spread in 12 of their last 13 games as home underdogs against Western Conference opponents following a win.
- The Spurs have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six playoff road games following a loss.
Why the San Antonio Spurs will win
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last nine games against the Spurs after winning as underdogs.
- The Spurs have won each of their last eight games following a loss.
- The Spurs have covered the spread in each of their last eight games following a loss.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven playoff games against Southwest Division opponents following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Trail Blazers’ last six games against Southwest Division opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Spurs’ last five games as favorites against the Trail Blazers have gone UNDER the total points line.
Portland Trail Blazers Player Facts
- Donovan Clingan ranks 1st in the league for second-chance points (339) this season.
- Deni Avdija has scored 25+ points in six consecutive appearances—the longest active streak of any player in the league.
San Antonio Spurs Player Facts
- Stephon Castle is one of only five players to have recorded a 40+ point triple-double this season.
- Julian Champagnie is one of only 11 players in the league to have made 10+ threes in a game this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent steals per game this season (10.8).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for turnovers per game this season (17.3).
- The Spurs rank 1st in the league for Q1 points per game this season (31.9).
- The Spurs rank 1st in the league for H1 points per game this season (62.2).
Trail Blazers vs Spurs Prediction
The Spurs are still missing Jordan McLaughlin and the status for Victor Wembanyama remains uncertain but he is traveling with the team for the weekend, while the Trail Blazers are coming in with the same squad once again. The Spurs were dealt a real curveball when Wembenyama suffered that nasty fall but they still almost got the job done. The momentum is with the Trail Blazers now and they could get lucky again if Wembenyama isn’t able to suit up, but I still think the Spurs are the better team and with the extra day to make some adjustments, I expect them to reclaim control with a narrow win in this spot behind a big game from either Castle or Fox.