Clippers vs. Trail Blazers NBA expert prediction and odds for Wednesday, March 20 (Lay it with Los Angeles)
NBA betting preview, prediction and best bet for Clippers-Trail Blazers.
The Clippers are looking to get right on the road Wednesday night as a double-digit favorite against the lowly Trail Blazers. Los Angeles has dropped four of its last five games and now have a four-game deficit for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans are closing in at just a half-game back for the No. 4 spot with less than a month remaining in the regular season.
Can the Clippers bounce back? They have a great opportunity to do just that in two games in three days against the Blazers, who are full steam ahead for the NBA Draft this spring after winning just four games since the All Star Break. Here’s the betting preview of Wednesday’s matchup with a best bet.
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Clippers vs. Trail Blazers odds, spread and total
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers how to watch
- Date: Wednesday, March 20
- Game time: 10 p.m. EST
- Venue: Moda Center
- How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
- Clippers record: 42-25
- Trail Blazers record: 19-49
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers injury report
Los Angeles Clippers
- Terance Mann (shoulder): probable
- Norman Powell (lower leg): questionable
Portland Trail Blazers
- Matisse Thybulle (ankle): questionable
- Malcolm Borgdon (elbow): out
- Jerami Grant (hamstring): doubtful
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers key players to watch
Los Angeles Clippers
Ivica Zubac: While the Clippers’ star-studded lineup does the majority of the scoring, Zubac is tasked with the dirty work down low. The former second-round pick is averaging close to a double-double per game at 11.4 points and 9.1 rebounds, but hasn’t been his best this month. In March, Zubac is averaging just 8.4 points and 7.3 boards a night. He’s still shooting over 65% from the field, but the rebounding drop off is concerning.
Portland Trail Blazers
Anfernee Simons: Portland’s first-round pick in 2018, Simons has put up 30-plus points in four games this month for a struggling Trail Blazers’ offense. In Monday’s 110-107 road loss to Chicago, Simons had 30 points and 9 assists. He’s been a bright spot over a brutal month-plus for Portland, along with big man DeAndre Ayton.
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers prediction and pick
If you’re gonna lay double digit points on the road, the favorite needs to be motivated. It’s hard to picture motivation being a problem for the Clippers, who are sinking in the Western Conference standings at the worst possible time.
The Clippers are 13-10 ATS as a road favorite this season and offense was the problem over its latest two-game losing streak, combining for just 197 points. They can find the cure to their offensive woes Wednesday night against a Portland defense that is No. 22 in the NBA in defensive rating and bottom-10 in the league down low. Despite the heavy hitters in its lineup, Los Angeles doesn’t depend on perimeter shooting and are top-10 in the NBA in 2-point shooting.
Defensively, the Clippers are No. 10 in the NBA in road scoring defense, permitting just 113.6 points per game and face the 28th-ranked offense in Portland that has struggled to find the net no matter where they’re at on the floor. Portland is last in the NBA in shooting from inside the arc. In the end, it’s about the motivation factor. Los Angeles uses its desperation to pummel another bad team (Clippers are 22-4 against sub-.500 clubs this season). Lay the points.
Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.