Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers Prediction, NBA Odds
The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the most active teams over the last week leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline as they prepare to host the L.A. Lakers on Wednesday night. Portland’s new-look roster is coming off a 113-95 home loss against Orlando on Tuesday, while the Lakers fell 131-116 at home against Milwaukee.
L.A. is a 9.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 225.5.
Lakers vs. Trail Blazers NBA Betting Odds
This is the fourth and final regular season meeting between these teams this year. Portland’s only win in the season series came at home, 105-90 on Nov. 6. The Lakers won both games in L.A., 139-106 on Dec. 31 and 99-94 on Feb. 2. Five of the last six games in this head-to-head, including two of three this season, have finished Under the total.
The Lakers have struggled on the road and have dropped five of their last six games outside the City of Angels. They’re just 24-31 against the spread for the season, but they’ve covered in four of their last five games against Portland. The total has gone Over in five of L.A.’s last six games overall.
The Trail Blazers’ overall losing streak is now up to six games, with their home losing streak at five. They’ve been a terrible cover option this year, going 21-34 ATS overall, including 0-6 ATS in their last six games. The total has gone Under in four of Portland’s last five games.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers now sit three games under .500, so there’s been widespread speculation that big changes are coming to this roster by the end of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. Even a rare occurrence with LeBron James and Anthony Davis both in the lineup against Milwaukee wasn’t enough to get the win for the injury-riddled lineup. James finished with 27 points, five rebounds and eight assists, while Davis had 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists. It was James’ second game back after missing the previous five with swelling in his knee. L.A. is just 10-8 with James and Davis both on the floor this year.
Malik Monk has been one of the pleasant surprises for the Lakers. Monk finished with 20 points and five assists against the Bucks and he is averaging 13.1 points per game, the highest mark of his career. One of L.A.’s nasty surprises, however, has been the play of Russell Westbrook, who has been noticeably struggling. Westbrook finished with 10 points (3-of-11 shooting), 10 assists and four turnovers on Tuesday and sat out the entire fourth quarter. Over his last four games, the former league MVP has shot 14-of-51 from the field and 2-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers made a big splash leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline, dealing CJ McCollum to New Orleans in a seven player trade on Tuesday. The trade is the end of an era in Portland as it breaks up the backcourt duo of McCollum and Damian Lillard, which has led the Trail Blazers to playoff berths every season since 2014, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Portland also shipped out former Toronto Raptor Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers last week in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow and Keon Johnson. There’s already been news Bledsoe could be flipped again, so between continuing trade rumours and injuries, it’s unclear when or if the new trade pieces will be in the lineup. With three starters traded in the last week and Lillard potentially done for the season following abdominal surgery in January, there’s a good chance the Trail Blazers’ playoff streak comes to end this year.
LAL
POR