LA Lakers (18-14) vs Portland Trail Blazers (11-21)
January 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: LA Lakers -8.5 / Portland Trail Blazers +8.5 — Over/Under: 225.5
The Portland Trail Blazers and LA Lakers meet Thursday in NBA action at the crypto.com Arena. Here’s a Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Lakers Prediction. This article will include a Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Lakers Pick.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Mavs, lost to the 76ers, and they play the Bucks, Pistons, and Pelicans next. The Portland Trail Blazers are averaging 108.1 points on 44.4 percent shooting and allowing 117.3 points on 48.2 percent shooting. Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 17.8 points and 3.5 rebounds, while Anfernee Simons is averaging 17.5 points and 2.7 rebounds. Jerami Grant is the third double-digit scorer and Deandre Ayton is grabbing 10.2 rebounds. The Portland Trail Blazers are shooting 33.1 percent from beyond the arc and 77 percent from the free-throw line. The Portland Trail Blazers are allowing 38 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.1 rebounds per game.
LA Lakers Betting Preview
The LA Lakers beat the Kings, lost to the Cavs, and they play the Hawks, Rockets, and Mavs next. The LA Lakers are averaging 111.9 points on 47.3 percent shooting and allowing 114.3 points on 47.7 percent shooting. Anthony Davis is averaging 26.1 points and 11.6 rebounds, while LeBron James is averaging 23.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. Austin Reaves is the third double-digit scorer and Rui Hachimura is grabbing 5.4 rebounds. The LA Lakers are shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. The LA Lakers are allowing 36.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.2 rebounds per game.
Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Lakers Injury Report
Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle are out for the Trail Blazers. Dalano Banton is questionable.
The Lakers will be without Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Wood. Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, and Anthony Davis are questionable for LA.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win
- The Trail Blazers have lost 21 of their last 22 road games against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Lakers have won each of their last seven home games against Northwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
- The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last five games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six road games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Lakers’ last six night games against Northwest Division opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Six of the Trail Blazers’ last seven games against Pacific Division opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
Los Angeles Lakers Player Facts
- Rui Hachimura ranks T7th in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for 3P% (43.8%) this season.
- Austin Reaves ranks 26th amongst qualified players for assists per game (5.7) this season.
Portland Trail Blazers Player Facts
- Shaedon Sharpe ranks 48th amongst qualified players for points per game (17.8) this season.
- Deni Avdija ranks 23rd amongst qualified Forwards for assists per game (3.2) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Lakers rank 28th in the league for rebounds per game this season (41.2).
- The Lakers rank T3rd in the league for opponent free throws made per game this season (15.0).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for Q4 opponent points per game this season (30.0).
- The Portland Trail Blazers are the only team to lose a home game against the Pelicans this season.
Portland Trail Blazers vs LA Lakers Prediction
The Portland Trail Blazers have games here and there where they get hot offensively and put a scare into an opponent. However, the Trail Blazers are 3-13 SU on the road and just not a team I’m looking to back game to game. The LA Lakers have covered 7 of their last 10 games, and we’re not seeing LeBron on the injury report. The Lakers have won and covered each of the last three games against the Trail Blazers. The Lakers have won 6 of the last 7 games against the Trail Blazers overall. The Trail Blazers have failed to cover 4 of their last 5 games. Tick line, but give me the Lakers anyway at home.