Trail Blazers vs Lakers Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

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12 November 2023

Trail Blazers vs Lakers Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

The Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers will be down a few bodies when these two meet tonight. Without the heavy hitters, our NBA picks are banking on this game total to stay low until the very end.

Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers look to win their fourth straight at home to start the year when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Portland is trying to avoid a third straight loss but it's pretty dinged up, part of the reason L.A. is favored by 10 points in the NBA odds.

Los Angeles broke an ugly three-game slide and salvaged a win in Phoenix to wrap up its four-game road trip but how will tonight's game play out? Let’s delve into Trail Blazers vs Lakers as I bring you my favorite NBA picks for this West Conference affair.

Trail Blazers vs Lakers odds

Trail Blazers vs Lakers predictions

Despite a fourth-quarter rally to secure the win, L.A. again found itself trailing after one quarter — making that seven times in nine games the Lakers have had to play uphill after 12 minutes.

That will be even more of a concern if LeBron James can't go. He's a game-time decision, as he hurt his left calf in the second quarter against Phoenix, though he remained in the game.

LBJ could be joining the street clothes squad with Jared Vanderbilt (heel) and Gabe Vincent (knee) both out. Jaxson Hayes (ankle) is probable against Portland.

The Portland Blazers have plenty of injuries of their own. Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) is the latest Blazer to hit the injury list, thinning an already bare backcourt that’s missing Scoot Henderson (ankle) and Anfernee Simons (thumb)

Portland is already the lowest-scoring team in the league, putting up just 106 points per game. The Lakers are in 20th, tallying 110.4 points per contest. These two teams are also two of the worst 3-point shooting teams in basketball. The Blazers are hitting at a 30.1% clip — ranking 29th — and the Lakers are just ahead in 28th at a meager mark of 31.1%

L.A. has been above average at home defending, holding opponents to around 107 points per game, which would rank as a Top 10 mark. Six of the Lakers’ first nine games have gone Under, and I like that play Sunday.

My best bet: Under 218.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

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Trail Blazers vs Lakers same-game parlay

Under 218.5

Trail Blazers first half moneyline

Lakers moneyline

L.A. has struggled in the first quarter, and that’s led to them walking into halftime trailing every game so far this season.

In nine games this year, the Lakers have trailed by at least eight points in six, including double-digit deficits in four of those contests. Portland, meanwhile, has gone into the break with the lead in two of its last three games.

The Lakers haven’t won a game by double digits at all this season, and even with all of the Blazers’ injuries, there’s a very real possibility they can hang with Los Angeles.

Closing things out, though? That’s a tall order, with Brogdon and Simons — two of their most important shot makers and creators — sidelined. Without them, there should be long stretches where their offensive flow will stagnate.

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Trail Blazers vs Lakers spread and Over/Under analysis

The middle ground in the spread for this one has been 10 points, and you can find action a half-point above or below this line depending on which way you’re leaning.

In the last 10 head-to-head meetings, the Lakers are 6-4 against the spread, though they are 3-6-0 ATS this year — a Bottom 5 mark in the NBA. Portland is 4-4-0 ATS on the year, including a 3-2-0 mark on the road.

As for the total, the highest number found at the books is 220.5, with most lines coming in at around 218.5 to 219.5.

For all their offensive struggles, Chauncey Billups’ Blazers are 11th in scoring defense, including a Top 10 mark in 3-point defense, limiting opponents to just 33.7% from distance.