Portland is going to be a playoff team again in the West barring an epic collapse, but the Blazers realistically should finish anywhere from third to sixth in the standings. Staying in the Top 4 is important for first-round home-court advantage, although that didn’t help last year when the Blazers were swept by the New Orleans Pelicans. Should this team flame out again in the postseason, there could be major changes. That might even include trading Lillard, who has two years left on his contract. Or perhaps backcourt mate C.J. McCollum is the one to go.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Toronto has won the past three home meetings with the Blazers but rarely wins in Portland and didn’t on Dec. 14, 128-122. That may have been a bit of a letdown game for the Raptors as it followed a huge upset victory at Golden State and also was the team’s third road game in four nights. Lillard had 24 points, one of eight Blazers in double figures.

Portland’s bench outscored Toronto’s a whopping 58-26. Rare for the Raptors’ reserves to be dominated like that. Lowry missed the game with a thigh bruise. Kawhi Leonard had 28 points, and Danny Green 19 points and 12 rebounds. Toronto shot 55.1 percent overall and 58.1 percent from deep – rare a team loses in the NBA shooting that well.

The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland is in the midst of a season-long seven game road trip is 4-0 on it after a 97-92 upset win in Boston on Wednesday – the Blazers have now beaten very good teams in the Celtics, 76ers and Warriors (in Oakland) on a five-game winning streak. Lillard had 33 points against Boston and Mo Harkless 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Enes Kanter has been a terrific bench addition since being bought out by the Knicks and had eight points and seven rebounds on Wednesday, but the Turkey native will not travel to Toronto due to immigration issues. Another key reserve, Evan Turner, has missed the past three games with a knee injury and is unlikely for this one. Portland is a stellar 18-4 straight up against the East this season.

Toronto Raptors

The Dinos might be in another letdown spot here as they come off a big home win over Boston on Tuesday, 118-95, in the last meeting between the teams before potentially in the playoffs. After sitting out Sunday’s loss vs. Orlando for rest, Leonard was back in the lineup and had 21 points and six rebounds. Pascal Siakam was the star with 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting and eight rebounds. He was a team-best plus-22. Lowry had just seven points but 11 assists. He was the only Raptor to play more than 30 minutes.

Marc Gasol returned to a reserve role and had five points, five rebounds and eight assists in 23 minutes. Toronto held Boston to just 38.4 per cent shooting and 6-for-30 from deep. The Raptors have failed to cover their past five after a win.

Injuries

Portland

Rodney Hood (SG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 15 / 05 / 19

Rodney Hood (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 12 / 05 / 19

Maurice Harkless (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 05 / 05 / 19

Enes Kanter (C)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 04 / 05 / 19

Maurice Harkless (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 01 / 05 / 19

Enes Kanter (C)

Prob Mon Shoulder - 24 / 04 / 19

Enes Kanter (C)

Prob Fri Hand - 17 / 04 / 19

CJ McCollum (SG)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 19

Maurice Harkless (SF)

Prob Tues Hip - 07 / 04 / 19

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Ques Wed Illness - 07 / 04 / 19

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19

Jeremy Lin (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19

Serge Ibaka (C)

Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19

Injuries

Portland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Rodney Hood (SG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 15 / 05 / 19	2-2	1-3	+ -
Hood is battling a bone bruise in his left knee but is likely to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Warriors.
Rodney Hood (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 12 / 05 / 19	3-2	2-3	+ -
Hood has a bone bruise in his left knee but is likely to suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Warriors.
Maurice Harkless (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 05 / 05 / 19	3-5	5-3	+ -
Harkless is expected to suit up against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference second round despite a right ankle sprain.
Enes Kanter (C)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 04 / 05 / 19	4-5	5-4	+ -
Kanter reaggravated his separated left shoulder and injured his right bursa, but he is expected to take the floor for Game 4 of the Western Conference second round against the Nuggets.
Maurice Harkless (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 01 / 05 / 19	4-6	6-4	+ -
Harkless has a right ankle sprain and it is unknown if he will draw back into the lineup against the Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference second round.
Enes Kanter (C)	Prob Mon	Shoulder - 24 / 04 / 19	5-7	7-5	+ -
Kanter is dealing with a separated shoulder but it is anticipated that he will play in Game 1 of the Western Conference second round against the Nuggets.
Enes Kanter (C)	Prob Fri	Hand - 17 / 04 / 19	7-8	8-7	+ -
Kanter suffered a right hand contusion but is expected to take the court for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Thunder.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 19	8-10	10-8	+ -
McCollum will not play against the Kings on Wednesday as he will receive a day of rest.
Maurice Harkless (SF)	Prob Tues	Hip - 07 / 04 / 19	8-11	11-8	+ -
Harkless was lifted from the last game due to left hip tightness but it is not expected to affect his status for Tuesday's matchup versus the Lakers.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Ques Wed	Illness - 07 / 04 / 19	8-11	11-8	+ -
Trent Jr. has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games with a bout of gastroenteritis and it is uncertain if he will face the Kings on Wednesday.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Mon	Face - 08 / 06 / 19	2-0	1-2	+ -
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 15 / 05 / 19	7-4	6-6	+ -
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 04 / 05 / 19	9-6	8-8	+ -
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 02 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 01 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Ques Mon	Back - 18 / 04 / 19	13-8	9-13	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 09 / 04 / 19	15-9	10-15	+ -
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19	15-10	10-15-1	+ -
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19	18-10	12-16-1	+ -
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19	19-10	12-17-1	+ -
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Trail Blazers vs. Raptors Prediction