Two of the top teams in the NBA clash at the Staples Center on Tuesday night, as the Los Angeles Clippers host the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Clippers are in third place in the Western Conference standings with a 33-18 record but the sixth-place Blazers are just two games behind them and gaining steam.
Here are our best free NBA picks and predictions for the Blazers vs. Clippers on April 6, with tipoff at 10 p.m. ET.
Trail Blazers vs Clippers odds
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonLos Angeles bounced between -5.5 and -6 a few times at DraftKings and is at the latter number as of 7 p.m ET. The Trail Blazers are getting 56 percent of spread bets, while the Clippers are taking 52 percent of spread money. The total initially dipped from 227 to 226, but then surged to 230, with 65 percent of bets/77 percent of cash on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameTrail Blazers at Clippers betting preview
Injuries
Trail Blazers: Derrick Jones Jr. SF (Questionable), Jusuf Nurkic C (Out), Zach Collins PF (Out).
Clippers: Serge Ibaka PF (Out), Patrick Beverley PG (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games against teams with a winning straight-up record. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Clippers.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The Clippers are coming off a 104-86 win against the injury-riddled Lakers and are 7-2 SU and ATS over their last nine games. The Clips have decent depth but are heavily reliant on their superstar duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who combine for 47.9 points, 10.3 assists, and 12.8 rebounds per game, while also playing lockdown defense.
The Blazers are fresh off a 48-point demolishing of Oklahoma City and are 4-2 ATS over their last six games. Portland is paced by All-NBA guard Damian Lillard who leads the team with 29.6 points and 7.7 assists per game while shooting 45/38/94. Lillard is surrounded by CJ McCollum, Carmelo Anthony, and the recently acquired Norman Powell, who provide additional scoring punch.
With so many perimeter threats, it's little surprise that Portland has been one of the best offensive teams in the league, ranking sixth in offensive rating. However, the Blazers have struggled on the other end of the floor, ranking second-last in the league in defensive rating and allowing foes to shoot a sizzling 47.9 percent from the floor.
Los Angeles has been far better on defense, ranking 10th in defensive rating, and they even have the edge when it comes to offensive rating ranking fourth in the league. Although Portland is 5-1 SU over its last six games, four of those wins came against some of the worst teams in the league.
The Blazers are actually just 1-4 ATS in their last five games against teams with a winning record and are also 0-4 SU and ATS in their previous four meetings against the Clips. With the Clippers owning the head-to-head during the Kawhi Leonard Era and Portland's weak defensive play, take the home side to win and cover.
PREDICTION: Los Angeles Clippers -5.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The total for this game opened at 226 and has moved all the way up to 229.5, but there's plenty of reason to go against the line movement. Sure, the Blazers put up 115.2 points per game while surrendering 114.8 ppg, but they actually rank a modest 20th in the NBA in pace.
The Clippers play at an even slower tempo, ranking 29th in possessions per game. They also hold opponents to just 107.9 ppg and have been even stingier lately, lowering that number to 100.5 ppg over their last 11 contests.
Both of these teams also tend to play lower-scoring contests against quality opponents. The Blazers are 5-2 to the Under in their last seven games against teams with a winning record while the Clips are 15-5-3 in their previous 23 versus teams with a winning percentage above .600. Back the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 229.5 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
Blazers big man Enes Kanter is the perfect example of Portland's play this season: strong offensive play combined with ugly defense.
While Kanter's defense is laughably bad at times, he's still a solid scorer down low averaging 12 ppg on 60 percent shooting this season. He should be able to find success against the Clippers' interior defense, especially with Serge Ibaka injured.
Kanter is a reliable scorer and rebounder as long as he gets minutes, and with starting center Jusuf Nurkic ruled out of today's contest with knee inflammation, expect him to go Over his points total.
PREDICTION: Enes Kanter Points Over 10.5 (-120)
Trail Blazers vs Clippers betting card
- Los Angeles Clippers -5.5 (-110)
- Under 229.5 (-110)
- Enes Kanter Points Over 10.5 (-125)
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA Trail Blazers vs. Clippers picks, you could win $55.60 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on the NBA?
You can bet on NBA odds at every online and casino sportsbook, including NBA moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals, and a ton of NBA prop odds. Head over to our best sportsbooks for NBA betting in your area.
