Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers Free Prediction

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The league’s top shooting defense will be a 2.5-point underdog on the road at Staples Center, when the Portland Trail Blazers (10-3) square off against the Los Angeles Lakers (7-6). The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 227 points and it can be seen on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Odds

The last time the Trail Blazers played, they were victorious over the Boston Celtics, 100-94, covering as 2-point favorites. The Lakers, on the other hand, beat the Atlanta Hawks,107-106, but failed to cover as 11-point favorites. The Portland game finished 20 points under the projected point total of 214, while the Los Angeles game finished 23.5 points under the projected point total of 236.5.

Portland dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had an extraordinary offensive rebounding percentage of 32.6 (above their season average of 26.5) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.535 (above their season average of 0.528). For those same stats, Boston was 21.6 and 0.462, respectively. Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ 0.163 free throw rate was their biggest strength over Atlanta, who had a rate of 0.116. The Lakers’ mark was above their season average of 0.162, while the Hawks’ was below their season average of 0.213. LeBron James had a good outing for Los Angeles with 26 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Portland rallied around Jusuf Nurkic, who finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds.

The Lakers had the upper hand in the most recent game, a 114-110 victory, to even the season series at one. Damian Lillard was the top overall scorer in the game with 30 points. Los Angeles had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.570 vs. 0.452). Portland, meanwhile, had a much better turnover percentage (11.0 vs. 17.1). Los Angeles covered as a 4-point underdog and the two teams combined to put up 224 points, which was under the projected point total of 236.

Vegas has typically been fairly accurate when predicting totals of Trail Blazers games, with 7 unders compared to 6 overs. Portland heads into the game with records of 10-3 straight up (SU) and 10-3 against the spread (ATS).

Just over half of Lakers games have also finished under the total. Moreover, Los Angeles is 7-6 SU and 4-9 ATS.

Nurkic and CJ McCollum have been playing well over the last five games for Portland. Nurkic has averaged 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, while McCollum has put up 23.4 points, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals a game during that span.

From an effective field goal percentage perspective, this will be a matchup of two heavyweights. The sweet-shooting Los Angeles offense ranks fourth in the NBA in that metric at 0.539, while the top-notch Portland defense is ranked first in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.483). Moreover, the Trail Blazers are among the league’s best on the offensive backboards, ranking fourth in offensive rebounding percentage (27.0 percent). The Lakers, meanwhile, rank 26th in defensive rebounding percentage (73.9 percent).

Trail Blazers at Lakers Free Pick

NBA Prediction: SU Winner – Lakers, ATS Winner – Trail Blazers, O/U – Under

Betting Notes:

  • The Trail Blazers rank 11th in second chance points per game (14.2) while the Lakers rank 19th in second chance points allowed per game (14.0).
  • Los Angeles ranks fifth in points off turnovers per game (20.7) while Portland ranks 28th (13.5).
  • The Trail Blazers rank first in rebounds per game (52.2) while the Lakers rank 22nd in rebounds allowed per game (47.4).
  • Los Angeles ranks second in fast break points per game (22.2) while Portland ranks 22nd (11.2).
  • Los Angeles ranks second in points in the paint per game (58.3) while Portland ranks 17th (45.5).
  • The Lakers rank fifth in assists per game (26.1) while the Trail Blazers rank 27th (20.4).
  • The Lakers rank fifth in blocks per game (6.2) while the Trail Blazers rank 21st (4.7).
  • Portland averages 32.1 three pointers per game, which ranks 13th in the league. Los Angeles ranks 14th in three pointers allowed per game (31.3).
  • Los Angeles ranks fourth in steals per game (9.1) while Portland ranks 25th (5.8).
  • In games where they hold opponents below 100 points, Los Angeles is 1-0 and Portland is 4-0.
  • The Trail Blazers are 10-3 when they score above 100 points, while the Lakers are 7-6.
  • Los Angeles is 1-6 ATS at home, while Portland is 3-1 ATS on the road.
  • The total has gone over in 2 of the Trail Blazers’ 4 road games, while 4 of the Lakers’ 7 home games have gone under.

    • Bettings Trends:

    • In their last five games, Portland and Los Angeles have both had 5 unders.
    • The Trail Blazers are 4-1 ATS over their last five games, while the Lakers are 2-3.
    • The Trail Blazers’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 11.6, up from 9.7 for the season.
    • During their last five games, the Lakers have scored an average of 108.6 points per game (7.6 below their season average) and allowed an average of 106.6 points per game (8.9 below their season average).