After a thrilling Christmas slate of matchups, the NBA continues with nine games of action tonight. Closing down the night, the Los Angeles Clippers will face off with the Portland Trail Blazers. Both these teams sit in the bottom five of the Western Conference. This will be the second matchup between these two teams so far this year. The first occurred back on October 26th, which resulted in a 114-107 Clippers victory, but the state of both teams has shifted since this time.
Looking at the odds for tonight, the Clippers enter as 2.5-point favorites and hold -148 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Trail Blazers are +124 underdogs, with the game total set at O/U 227.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Friday night matchup.
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers preview
It has been a nightmare season for the Clippers with no clear path to the outlook improving. They have dropped to 8-21 on the season and sit in 13th place in the Western Conference. Age is a clear factor, with several youthful teams having passed them by, and the future beginning to look bleak in Los Angeles. The Clippers are 10-19 against the spread, and the under has cashed in 15 of 29 games.
Los Angeles is generating just 111.2 points per game, which ranks 28th in the league. The Clippers rank 21st in offensive rating, 28th in pace, 13th in field goal percentage, 17th in three-point percentage, and 27th in rebounds per game. Opponents are scoring 115.7 points per game against them, which ranks 14th in the NBA. The Clippers rank 25th in defensive rating, 21st in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 27th in opponents’ three-point percentage.
Ivica Zubac suffered a sprained ankle this week, which will keep him sidelined tonight. He joins Bradley Beal and Derrick Jones Jr, who are both also set to miss the matchup. Kawhi Leonard has suited up for 19 games this season, posting averages of 26.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. James Harden continues to produce in the late stages of his career, posting averages of 26.0 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. John Collins, Brook Lopez, Kris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Nico Batum round out most of their notable rotation.
The Portland Trail Blazers have quietly exceeded expectations in the early parts of this year and built a proper foundation for their youthful core. They hold a record of 12-18, which slots them at 10th place in the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers are 15-15 against the spread, and the over has hit in 18 of 30 games.
Portland is scoring 117.1 points per game, which ranks 14th in the NBA. They rank 22nd in offensive rating, third in pace, 29th in field goal percentage, 29th in three-point percentage, and last in turnovers per game. Defensively, opponents are scoring 120.5 points per game against them, which ranks 25th in the league. The Trail Blazers rank 22nd in defensive rating, 19th in opponents’ field goal percentage, 17th in opponents’ three-point percentage, and 27th in offensive rebounds allowed.
Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Jerami Grant, Blake Wesley, and Matisse Thybulle will all remain sidelined for tonight’s matchup, while Kris Murray and Robert Williams III are probable. The biggest bright spot for the Trail Blazers has been Deni Avdija, who is making a legitimate All-Star push this season. The 24-year-old is averaging 25.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, while attempting a career-high 6.4 three-pointers per game. Shaedon Sharpe has also shown some encouraging growth this year, putting forth 22.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, and Caleb Love have shown some exciting flashes as well.
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers prediction, best Bet
Neither of these teams should have deep playoff expectations, and the seven-point victory by the Clippers in their first matchup is worth noting. But the outlook for the Clippers has slipped since this point, with them losing 10 of their previous 13 games.
There is a higher level of top-end talent on this Clippers team, but they have not been able to play connected team basketball at a consistent rate all season. The loss of Zubac is massive, with there being a legitimate case that he has been Los Angeles’ best two-way player on the season. The 28-year-old is posting averages of 15.6 points and 11.1 rebounds, and this will mark just his second game missed this year.
While Portland is lacking in quality of talent, they are the type of young, competitive team that can cause issues for the aging Clippers’ roster. Los Angeles will not be able to match the level of athleticism from players like Shaedon Sharpe, and Portland should have the rebounding advantage as well. The Trail Blazers tallied 18 offensive rebounds in the first matchup between these two teams, with Zubac being active in this game. Expect the outlook to further worsen without the starting center.
Look for the Trail Blazers to get the outright victory tonight. Things could get worse before they get better for the Clippers, and these types of youthful high-effort teams are a nightmare for them. Count on Deni Avdija to continue being relentless in his attacks in transition, Shaedon Sharpe to get to the rim at will, and for the Trail Blazers to control the glass. If the Clippers come out flat in this matchup, the Trail Blazers will bury them.
