The Charlotte Hornets are coming off a dramatic comeback win over the Sacramento Kings last night, so what do they have in store for an encore when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers in their second game in as many nights?
Conversely, Portland will look to take advantage of Charlotte’s heavy legs as it tries to end its four-game losing streak as 7.5-point home chalk. Can the Blazers end their SU skid and cover the spread at the same time?
Find out in our free NBA picks and predictions for Hornets vs. Trail Blazers on Monday, March 1 with tipoff scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Charlotte Hornets at Portland Trail Blazers betting preview
Injuries
Hornets: Gordon Hayward SF (Questionable), Devonte' Graham PG (Questionable), Cody Zeller C (Questionable).
Trail Blazers: Harry Giles III PF (Out), Jusuf Nurkic C (Out), CJ McCollum SG (Out), Zach Collins PF (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last four games as an underdog and 5-2 in the Trail Blazers’ last seven games at home. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Trail Blazers.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonThe Trail Blazers opened -6.5 late Sunday night at FanDuel, spent a few minutes this morning at -6 and have since made their way up to -8. However, point-spread action is very much two-way as of 7:15 p.m. ET, with 59 percent of bets on Charlotte and 52 percent of money on Portland. The total plunged from 234 to to 228.5, then recoverd a bit to 230.5, with ticket count and money both running 2/1 on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this game
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The Hornets trailed last night’s game to the Kings 123-115 with 58 seconds to go before making a furious comeback in an eventual 127-126 win. The Hornets were fueled by a huge game from forward PJ Washington, who put up 42 points on a 15-for-23 shooting performance from the field.
While the win was impressive, the Hornets pulled it off shorthanded and might have to do so once again, as leading scorer Gordon Hayward, Devonte’ Graham, and Cody Zeller are all questionable for this matchup. On top of that, Charlotte has traded wins and losses over its last eight games, a stretch where it ranks 15th in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers will be happy to return home after dropping four in a row, including all three on a tough road trip. Portland averaged just 99.7 points per game over its last three games against the Lakers, Nuggets, and Suns.
A date with the Hornets may be just what Damian Lillard and the Blazers need. As noted, the Hornets struggled on the defensive end and face a Blazers team that ranks seventh in offensive rating and averaged 116 points per game at home in February. This is a good “get-right” spot for the Blazers. Lay the points with the favorite.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
While the Blazers are a good bet to win and cover this matchup, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll make it easy on themselves. Washington and the Hornets should have plenty of room to work against a Blazers defense that ranks just two spots ahead of the dead-last Kings when it comes to defensive rating. And the Hornets’ offense sure has found a new gear during their current West Coast road trip, putting up 120.5 points per contest through four games.
While the early money has come in on the Under for this matchup, that has lowered the number enough for us to think with the Hornets’ offense buzzing, mixed with a “get-right” spot for the Blazers, that the Over is the right bet here.
PREDICTION: Over 232.5 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
While the Blazers have dropped four straight games, it hasn’t been for Lillard’s lack of trying. The Blazers’ star guard still averaged 29.8 points and 9.8 assists during the losing streak, and he could be in for a big game against the Hornets, particularly from deep.
The Hornets rank 20th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and Dame is jacking them up from deep at a crazy rate. Lillard is attempting 11.6 threes per game over his last 11 contests, shooting 38.3 percent over that span. But more importantly for us, Dame has hit five or more 3-pointers in seven of those 11 games. His made three total for this one is at 4.5.
PREDICTION: Damian Lillard Over 4.5 Made Threes (-120)
Hornets vs Trail Blazers betting card
- Trail Blazers -6.5 (-110)
- Over 232.5 (-110)
- Damian Lillard Over 4.5 Made Threes (-120)
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