The Los Angeles Clippers have been on a torrid pace recently and they look to keep their good fortunes rolling as they tip off at the Moda Center against a Portland Trail Blazers team moving in the opposite direction. These two teams met earlier this month on November 8 and it was Portland walking away with a 116-105 triumph and the Blazers are a four-point favorite in tonight’s game with the total Sportsbook at 227 points.
- The total has gone OVER in each of Los Angeles’ last seven games.
- Portland is 7-2 ATS in its last nine home games.
- Portland is 4-0 SU and ATS in its last four games vs Los Angeles.
Los Angeles vs Portland Game Center
Trail Blazers are coming off a brutal road trip
For the first time in two weeks, Portland gets to entertain its home fans as it concluded a six-game road swing at Golden State on Friday. The extended trip was not an enjoyable one as it went 2-4 with its only two victories coming over the lowly Washington Wizards and New York Knicks. At home this year, the Trail Blazers are very strong, posting a 7-2 SU and ATS record, including going 4-0 SU and ATS in their last four home games. They are averaging the fifth-most home points per game this season at 117.8 while limiting their opponents to 107.6 points which is the eighth-fewest in the league.
Portland elects to take a lot of shots that has led to putting up large scores as it averages 90.8 shots from the floor per game which is the ninth most and that increases to 93.7 shots at the Moda Center ranking third in the NBA. When it played Los Angeles earlier this month it took 97 shots while the Clippers were held to just 89, which could be attributed to the Blazers offensively outrebounding LA 14-7. At home, they average the third-most offensive boards per game, allowing for second chances and again running up the score.
Los Angeles looks to keep its hot play going
Since the calendar flipped to November, the Clippers have been playing great basketball, putting together an 8-3 record, but one of those losses came against the Blazers on the road. Overall, Los Angeles is just 4-5 SU and ATS on the road this year and lost its most recent game at Washington last Tuesday. The Clippers play a fast-paced style that averages the fifth-most possessions per game, while also scoring the third-most points per game at 117.6 and increases to 118.0 on the road.
However, they have an issue keeping their opponents from scoring as they allow the eighth-most points per game at 113.2 and that total jumps to 117 ppg in away games, not a good strategy against a strong scoring team in Portland. LA takes the third-fewest triple attempts per game at just 25.4 and elect for higher-percentage shots in the key as they outscored Portland 54-44 in the paint in the loss earlier this month, but went just 8-for-23 from beyond the arc. Also, much like how that first game played out the Clippers are averaging the fifth-fewest offensive rebounds per game at just 9.2 which drops to 8.4 on the road.
Should you be on the OVER?
We have two of the top-10 scoring teams in the NBA tipping off tonight and Sportsbook has the total Sportsbook at 227 points. The total has gone OVER in each of the Clippers’ last seven games with an average combined score of 238.86, however, the last game that went under for them came against the Trail Blazers when the total was set at 225.5 and the combined score was 221. Meanwhile, the total has gone OVER in five of Portland’s last six games with an average combined score of 231. Although, four of the last five meetings between these two clubs have gone UNDER with only one game going OVER 227 points, so there are lots of signs pointing towards the OVER I think it’s a bit of a trap and I think the UNDER will come through.
My take on Los Angeles vs Portland
I like Portland to cover the four-point spread tonight. The Trail Blazers play much better at home than they do on the road and having a day of rest following that grueling road trip will be good for them to get rejuvenated and they come out firing tonight. Portland is 4-0 SU and ATS in its last four vs Los Angeles, and is 7-2 SU and ATS at the Moda Center overall this season. Meanwhile, the Clippers can’t seem to keep their opponents from scoring on the road and are just 4-5 SU and ATS away from home this season I think they are going stumble tonight.
