Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon
When: Thursday, January 5, 2017, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Lakers (TBA) vs. Portland Trailblazers (TBA); total: TBA– view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
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Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers
A season-high 17 three-pointers, a triple-double (19 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) from Julius Randle and surprisingly good defense catapulted the Lakers to victory over the visiting Grizzlies on Tuesday night, which also snapped a three-game slide for LA.
It was arguably the most complete game for the Lakers, who earned just their 13th win of the season and will now hope to carry their new-found momentum in tonight’s road game with Portland. The purple and gold has dropped the last eight meetings (1-7 SU) against them, including a 121-103 loss at Staples Center earlier this season.
The Lakers haven’t really shown any signs of consistency ever since their surprising 7-5 start to the year. Then again, they might just be able to shock us once more versus a Trail Blazers defense that allows at least 110 points per contest.
D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young, who each had six threes on Tuesday, are definitely in line for another hot-shooting night. Both are averaging 23.0 points and are shooting no less than 66 percent from down town in two January games.
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland’s scoring has taken a slight dip since losing Damian Lillard to an ankle sprain, averaging below a hundred points in the last five games. The Trail Blazers went just 2-3 in that stretch, including Wednesday night’s eight-point loss at Golden State.
C.J. McCollum didn’t shoot well in that game (13-of-31) but finished with a team-high 35 points, while all of his fellow starters each had 10 point or more to help keep things close. They’ll need to muster all the points, and energy, they can get again versus the Lakers, who are fresh off an impressive win over Memphis on Tuesday.
That should be pretty easy to do, considering that the LA defense ranks near the bottom of the league. But Portland’s defense has been almost just as bad this season, so we can expect an up-tempo and high-scoring game later.
Lillard’s status is still unclear for this game, and if he doesn’t suit up again, expect his backcourt mate to continue leading the offense. McCollum is averaging 31.2 points in the past five games, including a career-high 43 points during a win at Minnesota.
Writer’s Prediction
If Lillard plays, Portland should easily win and cover. If not, the Lakers will steal this one.
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