The Portland Trail Blazers have struggled out of the gate early on in the 2019-20 season. The team that surprisingly made it to the Western Conference Finals last season has dropped four of their first seven games. Losses to Denver, San Antonio and Philadelphia are explainable. A loss to an awful Golden State team is not. The Trail Blazers will try to rebound on Thursday when the visit the Los Angeles Clippers.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Portland has spent most of its time on the road early this season. The Trail Blazers are 3-2 as the visiting team, compared to 0-2 on their home floor. However, Portland is 5-1 against the spread in its last six road games, so they’re at least covering spreads. The Trail Blazers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against Western Conference opponents.

Meanwhile, LA entered Wednesday night with a 4-0 record at Staples Center, including a 3-1 mark against the spread. The Clippers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games played on zero days’ rest. The under is also 4-0 in the last four games los Angeles has played on zero days’ rest.

Portland Trail Blazers

Scoring hasn’t been a problem for a Portland side that has averaged 114.4 points per game this season. However, the Trail Blazers have struggled to keep the basketball out of their own net, giving up an average of 115.3 points per game. It’s odd because Portland isn’t that bad in terms of opponent field goal percentage (12^th) and they’re a decent rebounding team (10^th). Their issue has been fouling as they’re putting their opponents on the line a whopping 30.3 times per game. That simply has to change.

The Trail Blazers continue to rely heavily on the tandem of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum at the offensive end of the floor. Lillard has averaged 31.1 points per game this season, with McCollum averaging 20.7. They’ve been getting good support from guys like Hassan Whiteside (14.3), Rodney Hood (12.9) and Anfernee Simmons (9.6), but the team did lose Zach Collins to a long-term shoulder injury. He was chipping in 9.0 points along with 4.0 rebounds.

L.A. Clippers

The Clippers won five of their first seven before welcoming Milwaukee to town on Wednesday night. Even without Paul George, this team looks like it can contend in the Western Conference. They don’t seem too worried about home-court advantage as a showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs would essentially put them on their own court.

Kawhi Leonard has led the way with 29.3 points per game while Lou Williams has chipped in with 20.3 points and Montrezl Harrell has averaged 19.3 points per game. With JaMychal Green, Ivica Zubac, Landry Shamet and Patrick Beverley all contributing, this group has proven they can be extremely dangerous once George returns to the lineup.

The Clippers decided to rest Kawhi Leonard on Wednesday, which means he’s probably back in the lineup on Thursday. That should give this team a boost facing the struggling Blazers.

Who Will Win Trail Blazers vs. Clippers?

Injuries

Portland

Wenyen Gabriel (PF)

Out Sat Quadricep - 29 / 08 / 20

CJ McCollum (SG)

Prob Sat Back - 25 / 08 / 20

CJ McCollum (SG)

Prob Mon Back - 23 / 08 / 20

CJ McCollum (SG)

Prob Sat Back - 22 / 08 / 20

CJ McCollum (SG)

Prob Thurs Back - 19 / 08 / 20

CJ McCollum (SG)

Prob Tues Back - 17 / 08 / 20

Zach Collins (PF)

out for season Ankle - 16 / 08 / 20

Nassir Little (SF)

Early Sept Illness - 13 / 08 / 20

CJ McCollum (SG)

Prob Thurs Back - 11 / 08 / 20

Hassan Whiteside (C)

Prob Tues Hip - 08 / 08 / 20

L.A. Clippers

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Prob Thurs Calf - 19 / 08 / 20

Paul George (SF)

day-to-day Rest - 14 / 08 / 20

Landry Shamet (PG)

Ques Mon Foot - 11 / 08 / 20

Paul George (SF)

day-to-day Rest - 09 / 08 / 20

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Out indefinitely Calf - 04 / 08 / 20

Amir Coffey (SG)

Prob Sat Hip - 31 / 07 / 20

Lou Williams (SG)

Prob Tues Personal - 24 / 07 / 20

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Doub Thurs Personal - 21 / 07 / 20

Ivica Zubac (C)

Ques Thurs Illness - 21 / 07 / 20

Montrezl Harrell (PF)

Prob Mon Personal - 17 / 07 / 20

Injuries

Portland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Wenyen Gabriel (PF)	Out Sat	Quadricep - 29 / 08 / 20	0-0	0-0	+ -
Gabriel is battling right quad tendinitis and will not be available to face the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Prob Sat	Back - 25 / 08 / 20	0-2	1-1	+ -
McCollum is expected to take the court against the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round despite a vertebral fracture.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Prob Mon	Back - 23 / 08 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
McCollum is battling a vertebral fracture, but he is likely to take on the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Prob Sat	Back - 22 / 08 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
McCollum is expected to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers despite a vertebral fracture.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Prob Thurs	Back - 19 / 08 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
McCollum is expected to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers despite a vertebral fracture.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Prob Tues	Back - 17 / 08 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
McCollum is likely to take on the Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round despite a vertebral fracture.
Zach Collins (PF)	out for season	Ankle - 16 / 08 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
Collins will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a hairline medial malleolus stress fracture of his left ankle.
Nassir Little (SF)	Early Sept	Illness - 13 / 08 / 20	2-5	4-3	+ -
Little has been ailing from dehydration, and he is expected to miss at least two weeks.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Prob Thurs	Back - 11 / 08 / 20	3-5	5-3	+ -
McCollum is expected to play Thursday against the Nets despite a fracture in his lower back.
Hassan Whiteside (C)	Prob Tues	Hip - 08 / 08 / 20	4-6	7-3	+ -
Whiteside has missed the previous two contests due to a left hip strain. It is unlikely to affect his status for Tuesday's game against the Mavericks.

L.A. Clippers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Prob Thurs	Calf - 19 / 08 / 20	6-6	4-6-2	+ -
Beverley has a left calf strain, but he is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Nuggets.
Paul George (SF)	day-to-day	Rest - 14 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-7-2	+ -
George did not play the previous game as he was resting. It is unknown when he will return to the lineup.
Landry Shamet (PG)	Ques Mon	Foot - 11 / 08 / 20	8-7	6-7-2	+ -
Shamet has a sprained left foot, and it is uncertain if he will face the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Paul George (SF)	day-to-day	Rest - 09 / 08 / 20	9-7	7-7-2	+ -
George will not be in the lineup Sunday against the Nets, as he will receive the day off for rest.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Out indefinitely	Calf - 04 / 08 / 20	11-8	9-8-2	+ -
Beverley is sidelined with a left calf strain, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Amir Coffey (SG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 31 / 07 / 20	12-8	9-9-2	+ -
Coffey is dealing with a left hip pointer, but he is expected to be available for Saturday's contest against the Pelicans.
Lou Williams (SG)	Prob Tues	Personal - 24 / 07 / 20	12-8	9-9-2	+ -
Williams has missed the last two games as he is following NBA protocol and self isolating. He is expected to be cleared to return for Tuesday's matchup with the Suns.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Doub Thurs	Personal - 21 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Beverley has returned to the team after an urgent family matter but is now self isolating. It is unlikely that he will line up against the Lakers on Thursday.
Ivica Zubac (C)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 21 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Zubac has rejoined the team after healing from a bout of COVID-19, but it is unclear if he will take the court Thursday versus the Lakers.
Montrezl Harrell (PF)	Prob Mon	Personal - 17 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Harrell is going through quarantine, but it is projected that he will take part in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Mavericks.