Two playoff-bound Western Conference teams are set to meet on Tuesday night when the L.A. Clippers head to Portland to face the Trail Blazers.  The Clippers come into this matchup with eight wins in their last nine games, while Portland has dropped three of their last four.

The Clips are favoured to win on the NBA odds.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

This will be the second and final meeting between these teams this season.  They met up in L.A. earlier this month with the Clippers taking the game 133-116 behind a 36-point performance from Paul George.  Former Raptor Norm Powell led the Trail Blazers with 32 points.

The Clippers are ramping up at the right time of season and have won 14 of the 17 games they played over the last month.  They’re 7-1-1 against the spread in their last nine games overall and they’ve covered in four of their last five road games.  The total has gone Under in four of L.A.’s last five games in Portland.

Portland is beginning to creep into the play-in tournament danger zone as they’ve dropped five of their last seven games and have fallen to sixth in the West.  They haven’t been a great cover option this season, going 27-29 ATS overall and failing to cover in 17 of 28 home games.  The total has gone Under in six of the Trail Blazers last seven home games and five of their last six games overall.

Los Angeles Clippers

L.A. is in a three-way battle with Phoenix and Utah for top spot in the Western Conference, so it’s hard to see them resting players and not putting their best lineup on the court every game for the rest of the regular season.  Unfortunately, that lineup won’t include Serge Ibaka or Patrick Beverley for the time being.  It’s unclear how much more time Ibaka will miss with a back injury, but it’s expected Beverley will miss at least another month with a wrist injury.  Ivica Zubac has played well as the new starting centre in the absence of Ibaka.  Zubac put up 13 points and six rebounds in a 124-105 win over Minnesota on Sunday and he’s averaging a team-high 0.9 blocks per game.

Dealing with injury issues, George has been in and out of the lineup this season.  When healthy and fit, which he appears to be now, few players in the league are able to contain George.  His playmaking is improving as the season goes on and his shooting form has helped him average more than 33 points per night over his last five games.  Luke Kennard has also been big for the Clips and has at least 10 points in each of his last four appearances off the bench.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers need to shore up their defence if they want to avoid falling further down in the standings.  They had a terrible start against Charlotte on Sunday and trailed by 20 points at the end of the first quarter, before eventually dropping the game 109-101.  They have little defensive intensity and have struggled to defend the perimeter.  Portland is among the best 3-point shooting teams in the league and they rely heavily on the offence to make up for defensive mistakes.

Portland could be in big trouble for this game as Damien Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic have both been ruled out for Tuesday.  Lillard is missing his third straight game with a hamstring injury.  He’s third in league scoring, averaging 28.7 points per game.  Nurkic is essentially being rested for load management as this will be the first night of back-to-back games for the Trail Blazers.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Clippers vs. Trail Blazers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Clippers Team Leaders

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 24.85
Assists	Rajon Rondo 5.78
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 7.21
FG%	Ivica Zubac 65.2
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 1.56
Blocks	Serge Ibaka 1.15

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 28.75
Assists	Damian Lillard 7.54
Rebounds	Enes Kanter 11.04
FG%	Enes Kanter 60.4
Steals	Robert Covington 1.44
Blocks	Robert Covington 1.2

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 30.36
Assists	Paul George 5.37
Rebounds	Paul George 9.63
FG%	Amir Coffey 75
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 2.09
Blocks	Serge Ibaka 1.5

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 34.33
Assists	Damian Lillard 10.17
Rebounds	Jusuf Nurkic 10.33
FG%	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 80
Steals	Robert Covington 1.5
Blocks	Jusuf Nurkic 1.17

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Trail Blazers Team Leaders

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 24.85
Assists	Rajon Rondo 5.78
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 7.21
FG%	Ivica Zubac 65.2
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 1.56
Blocks	Serge Ibaka 1.15

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 28.75
Assists	Damian Lillard 7.54
Rebounds	Enes Kanter 11.04
FG%	Enes Kanter 60.4
Steals	Robert Covington 1.44
Blocks	Robert Covington 1.2

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 30.36
Assists	Paul George 5.37
Rebounds	Paul George 9.63
FG%	Amir Coffey 75
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 2.09
Blocks	Serge Ibaka 1.5

POR

Points	Damian Lillard 34.33
Assists	Damian Lillard 10.17
Rebounds	Jusuf Nurkic 10.33
FG%	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 80
Steals	Robert Covington 1.5
Blocks	Jusuf Nurkic 1.17

Injuries

L.A. Clippers

Ivica Zubac (C)

Out Wed Knee - 28 / 06 / 21

Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)

Ques Sat Knee - 25 / 06 / 21

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Ques Thurs Head - 23 / 06 / 21

Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)

Ques Tues Knee - 21 / 06 / 21

Serge Ibaka (PF)

out for season Back - 27 / 05 / 21

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Prob Sat Achilles - 21 / 05 / 21

DeMarcus Cousins (C)

Ques Fri Foot - 15 / 05 / 21

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Ques Sun Achilles - 14 / 05 / 21

Terance Mann (SG)

Ques Sun Personal - 14 / 05 / 21

Portland

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Prob Tues Thumb - 31 / 05 / 21

Nassir Little (SF)

Ques Sun Back - 11 / 05 / 21

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Ques Wed Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21

Norman Powell (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 04 / 05 / 21

Norman Powell (SG)

Ques Mon Knee - 03 / 05 / 21

Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)

Ques Fri Hip - 21 / 04 / 21

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Out Tues Rest - 19 / 04 / 21

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Out Sat Rest - 10 / 04 / 21

Norman Powell (SG)

Prob Thurs Toe - 07 / 04 / 21

Jusuf Nurkic (C)

Prob Thurs Knee - 05 / 04 / 21

Injuries

L.A. Clippers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Ivica Zubac (C)	Out Wed	Knee - 28 / 06 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Zubac is dealing with a right knee MCL sprain, and he will not be in the lineup for Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against the Suns.
Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)	Ques Sat	Knee - 25 / 06 / 21	3-1	1-3	+ -
Morris Sr. is battling a left knee injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Suns in Game 4 of the Western Conference final.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Ques Thurs	Head - 23 / 06 / 21	3-2	2-3	+ -
Beverley is bothered by a head injury, leaving his status for Game 3 of the Western Conference versus the Suns up in the air.
Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)	Ques Tues	Knee - 21 / 06 / 21	3-2	2-3	+ -
Morris Sr. is managing a left knee injury, and it is unclear if he will take on the Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	out for season	Back - 27 / 05 / 21	11-6	9-8	+ -
Ibaka will miss the remainder of the 2020-21 season after undergoing back surgery.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Prob Sat	Achilles - 21 / 05 / 21	11-8	10-9	+ -
Jackson is expected to face the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round despite left Achilles soreness.
DeMarcus Cousins (C)	Ques Fri	Foot - 15 / 05 / 21	12-9	11-10	+ -
Cousins is dealing with left foot soreness, and it is unknown if he will play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Mavericks.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	12-9	11-10	+ -
Beverley will be handed a day of rest and will not be available against the Rockets on Friday.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Ques Sun	Achilles - 14 / 05 / 21	12-9	11-10	+ -
Jackson sat out the last game due to an Achilles injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Thunder on Sunday.
Terance Mann (SG)	Ques Sun	Personal - 14 / 05 / 21	12-9	11-10	+ -
Mann was held out of the previous game due to a personal matter, and it is uncertain if he will face the Thunder on Sunday.

Portland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Prob Tues	Thumb - 31 / 05 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Nurkic has a left thumb contusion, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Nassir Little (SF)	Ques Sun	Back - 11 / 05 / 21	6-4	6-4	+ -
Little has missed the previous two games with back spasms, and it is undetermined if he will take the court versus the Nuggets on Sunday.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21	7-5	7-5	+ -
Anthony has sat out the last two games with a sprained right ankle, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Wednesday's tilt against the Jazz.
Norman Powell (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 04 / 05 / 21	7-6	8-5	+ -
Powell missed the last game with a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will face the Lakers on Friday.
Norman Powell (SG)	Ques Mon	Knee - 03 / 05 / 21	8-6	9-5	+ -
Powell is tending to right knee patellar tendinopathy, and it is unknown if he will be available to face the Trail Blazers on Monday.
Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)	Ques Fri	Hip - 21 / 04 / 21	13-9	13-9	+ -
Jones Jr. missed the last game due to a right hip contusion, and it is uncertain if he will suit up for Friday's clash with the Grizzlies.
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 19 / 04 / 21	13-9	13-9	+ -
Nurkic will not be available for Tuesday's showdown with the Clippers as he will receive a day of rest.
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Out Sat	Rest - 10 / 04 / 21	15-12	14-13	+ -
Nurkic will not be available for Saturday's clash with the Pistons as he will receive a day of rest.
Norman Powell (SG)	Prob Thurs	Toe - 07 / 04 / 21	16-13	15-14	+ -
Powell is bothered by left big toe inflammation, but he is likely to be active Thursday versus the Jazz.
Jusuf Nurkic (C)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 05 / 04 / 21	16-13	15-14	+ -
Nurkic was held out of the last game due to right knee inflammation, but it is projected that he will suit up Thursday against the Jazz.