The Lakers return home and play their first game at Staples Center since the tragic death of franchise legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. It’s sure to be an emotional night with plenty of tributes for the Mamba. LeBron James and Co. hope to cap the night with a win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Blazers are coming off a 125-112 win home win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Portland is a on a two-game winning thanks to a win earlier in the week against the Indiana Pacers. It marks just the second time since December 23rd the Blazers have won consecutive games.
Portland is 5-3 straight up in its last eight games but just 3-5 against the spread over the same stretch. The club is still three games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
The Blazers were finalists in the Western Conference playoffs a season ago, but they’re just 21-27 SU and 18-28-2 against the number a year later. The Over is 5-1 in the squad’s last six games and 3-1 in the last four games between these two sides.
Los Angeles hasn’t played since Saturday night after the NBA decided to postpone its game against the Clippers on Tuesday. The Lakers went 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS on their five-game road trip. They’re now 36-10 SU and 24-21-1 ATS on the season.
The Purple and Gold remain the favourites to win this year’s NBA title at +300. The Clippers (+310) and Bucks (+333) are their chief contenders according to the oddsmakers.
Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard is tied for the league high 443 points scored this month with Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. Lillard has played played two fewer games though and leads the NBA in scoring average in January at 33.1 points per game.
He was up to his old tricks on Wednesday night against the Rockets. Lillard hit six of his 12 attempts from 3-point range including two near the midcourt logo.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Laker players haven’t been doing much talking to the media this week following the death of Kobe Bryant. Head coach Frank Vogel was the lone representative available to the media both on Wednesday and Friday. He told reporters the players have been lost in preparation for Saturday’s game the last two days as a form of therapy.
Who Will Win Trail Blazers vs. Lakers?
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TRAIL BLAZERS
114 -
LAKERS
120
Score
Prediction
Line History
No odds are available yet.
Injuries
Wenyen Gabriel (PF)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
Zach Collins (PF)
Nassir Little (SF)
CJ McCollum (SG)
Hassan Whiteside (C)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Alex Caruso (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Alex Caruso (SG)
Alex Caruso (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Rajon Rondo (PG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenyen Gabriel (PF) | Out Sat | Quadricep - 29 / 08 / 20 | 0-0 | 0-0 | + - |
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Gabriel is battling right quad tendinitis and will not be available to face the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Nassir Little (SF) | Early Sept | Illness - 13 / 08 / 20 | 2-5 | 4-3 | + - |
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Little has been ailing from dehydration, and he is expected to miss at least two weeks. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Sun | Finger - 11 / 10 / 20 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Green is dealing with soreness in his left ring finger but is anticipated to face the Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Tues | Finger - 05 / 10 / 20 | 0-3 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Green is tending to a volar plate injury in his left ring finger but is projected to suit up against the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Sun | Hip - 03 / 10 / 20 | 1-4 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Green is bothered by tightness in his hip and a volar plate injury in his left ring finger. He is likely to suit up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat. |
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| Alex Caruso (SG) | Prob Wed | Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20 | 2-4 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Caruso is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right wrist. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Wed | Finger - 29 / 09 / 20 | 2-4 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Green is projected to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a volar plate injury to his left ring finger. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Sat | Finger - 26 / 09 / 20 | 2-4 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Green is managing a hyperextended left ring finger, but it is projected that he will take the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets. |
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| Alex Caruso (SG) | Prob Sat | Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20 | 2-5 | 5-3 | + - |
|
Caruso is battling a sore right wrist, but is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets. |
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| Alex Caruso (SG) | Prob Thurs | Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20 | 2-6 | 5-4 | + - |
|
Caruso is expected to play against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals despite right wrist soreness. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Thurs | Finger - 23 / 09 / 20 | 2-6 | 5-4 | + - |
|
Green is battling a volar plate injury in his left finger but is likely to take on the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. |
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| Rajon Rondo (PG) | Prob Sun | Back - 19 / 09 / 20 | 4-6 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Rondo has been dealing with back spasms, but he is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Nuggets. |
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Line History
No odds are available yet.
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Injuries
Wenyen Gabriel (PF)
Out Sat Quadricep - 29 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Sat Back - 25 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Mon Back - 23 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Sat Back - 22 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Thurs Back - 19 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Tues Back - 17 / 08 / 20Zach Collins (PF)
out for season Ankle - 16 / 08 / 20Nassir Little (SF)
Early Sept Illness - 13 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Thurs Back - 11 / 08 / 20Hassan Whiteside (C)
Prob Tues Hip - 08 / 08 / 20Danny Green (SG)
Prob Sun Finger - 11 / 10 / 20Danny Green (SG)
Prob Tues Finger - 05 / 10 / 20Danny Green (SG)
Prob Sun Hip - 03 / 10 / 20Alex Caruso (SG)
Prob Wed Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20Danny Green (SG)
Prob Wed Finger - 29 / 09 / 20Danny Green (SG)
Prob Sat Finger - 26 / 09 / 20Alex Caruso (SG)
Prob Sat Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20Alex Caruso (SG)
Prob Thurs Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20Danny Green (SG)
Prob Thurs Finger - 23 / 09 / 20Rajon Rondo (PG)
Prob Sun Back - 19 / 09 / 20Injuries
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.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Danny Green (SG) Prob Sun Finger - 11 / 10 / 20 0-1 1-0 + - Green is dealing with soreness in his left ring finger but is anticipated to face the Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Tues Finger - 05 / 10 / 20 0-3 1-2 + - Green is tending to a volar plate injury in his left ring finger but is projected to suit up against the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Sun Hip - 03 / 10 / 20 1-4 2-3 + - Green is bothered by tightness in his hip and a volar plate injury in his left ring finger. He is likely to suit up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Alex Caruso (SG) Prob Wed Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20 2-4 3-3 + - Caruso is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right wrist.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Wed Finger - 29 / 09 / 20 2-4 3-3 + - Green is projected to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a volar plate injury to his left ring finger.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Sat Finger - 26 / 09 / 20 2-4 4-3 + - Green is managing a hyperextended left ring finger, but it is projected that he will take the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG) Prob Sat Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20 2-5 5-3 + - Caruso is battling a sore right wrist, but is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG) Prob Thurs Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20 2-6 5-4 + - Caruso is expected to play against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals despite right wrist soreness.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Thurs Finger - 23 / 09 / 20 2-6 5-4 + - Green is battling a volar plate injury in his left finger but is likely to take on the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Rajon Rondo (PG) Prob Sun Back - 19 / 09 / 20 4-6 6-5 + - Rondo has been dealing with back spasms, but he is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Nuggets.