Los Angeles Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers betting tips and predictions for Wednesday’s NBA game on NBA TV. Two teams coming off losses square off at Crypto.com Arena tonight as the Lakers host the Blazers for the 2nd meeting between the two teams. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Los Angeles Lakers
Just as I predicted, as soon as the Lakers face a tough team they end up losing. The Indiana Pacers taught them a lesson to never give up in the last game, winning on a buzzer beating three-pointer by rookie Nembhard. The Lakers blew a 17-point lead in the 4th quarter, that was not a good look for a team trying to make a run and climb up the leaderboard in the Western Conference.
This team is on a run of 5 wins in 7 games, but 3 of those wins were vs San Antonio and one of them against the Detroit Pistons. They’ve already lost against tonight’s opponent 106-104 at home earlier this season, I’m not really sure what to make of their chances here. The schedule becomes tougher and tougher as December begins, the next 30 days could very well decide the faith of LeBron James and the Lakers this season.
Portland Trail Blazers
Speaking of faith, it hasn’t been kind to the Portland Trail Blazers and their star player Damian Lillard. Lillard, who had 41 points in that win over the Lakers earlier this season, missed yet another game and the Blazers fell at home to the Clippers last night. Jerami Grand and Anfernee Simons each had over 30 points, but the absence of Lillard appears to be way too much to handle for this team.
There is good news on the horizon though, Dame is most likely making a comeback later this week, so the Blazers will have to do just one more game without him. Can they get another win over the unconvincing Lakers? It’s hard to say, they’ve wo only once in their last 5 road games and are just 6-13 SU in their last 19 vs Pacific Division opponents.
After watching them squander that big lead vs Indiana, I have very little confidence in the Lakers right now. But still, I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt here only because Dame Lillard is out for Portland. Take the Lakers to cover at home.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers Predictions & Odds
LA will have to rely on their defense in order to win tonight’s game. That’s fine, considering they have only two players to worry about, but are they capable of slowing them down? I think so, defense has been one of the bright spots for the Lakers this season. They have the 8th best defensive rating allowing just 110.1 points per 100 possessions, so a team like the Blazers could find it hard scoring here.
Portland has averaged only 106.9 points per game in the last 10 head-to-head, the under has cashed 7 times during that stretch. And that’s been the way most Portland road games have ended this season, they are 4-8 on the O/U away from home. With the last 14 of 18 games vs the Lakers ending under the total, I have no choice but to back that in tonight’s game.
