NBA Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 12-17-2018, 22:30 EDT

Spread: Los Angeles Clippers -2

Total: +218

The fifth and sixth best teams of the West face off in this high caliber duel, when the Portland Trail Blazers, who want to turn their latest victory into a streak, are visiting the Los Angeles Clippers, who are looking to end their current losing streak.

Blazers are 16-13 so far in the league and are tied with 2 more squads in the sixth place of the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they ended a 2-game losing skid with a home victory against Toronto, 128-122. Clippers are 17-12 so far in the league and are sitting on the fifth place of the Western Conference. They are 1-5 in their last 6 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Oklahoma City on the road, 104-110.

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Portland are led in scoring by Damian Lillard with 26.9 ppg. He also adds 5 rebounds and leads the team in assists made with 6 per game, while CJ McCollum follows with 21.7 ppg, adding 3.8 rebounds per game. Jusuf Nurkic adds 14.4 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 10.5 per game. LA are led in scoring by Tobias Harris 20.9 ppg. He also leads the team in rebounding with 8.1 per game, while Danilo Gallinari follows with 19 ppg, adding 6 rebounds per game. Lou Williams adds 17.2 ppg off the bench but he is out with an injury.

This will be the third meeting between those two squads this year with both of them being tied 1-1 wins. LA won on the road with a 100-104 score and Portland at home 116-105. LA are 9-3 at home so far, while Portland are 5-9 on the road. LA have a better offense with 113.9 ppg to Portland’s 111.6, while Portland have a better defense, allowing 110.2 ppg to LA’s 113.5. LA have a better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 46.6% to Portland’s 45.6% and from behind the arc, shooting with 37.3% to Portland’s 35.6%. They are also better in assists made (22.2 to 21), while Portland grab more rebounds (48.8 to 46) and both squads commit almost the same number of turnovers per game (14.3 to 14.4). Portland don’t pose a threat on the road against the Clippers, who are expected to win at home tonight.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers -2 (-110)