Trail Blazers vs Lakers Picks and Predictions: Davis Doesn't Let Up

This Los Angeles Lakers roller-coaster season has been many things, but dull isn’t one of them — and the ride continues tonight with a home date against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

The Lakers (7-12) will be eager to move on from the sting of Monday’s 116-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers where LeBron James and company blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead and lost on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

Meanwhile, a hot start has fizzled out somewhat for the Blazers (11-10), who will again be without leader Damian Lillard tonight, but Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant can still provide enough offense to trouble the Lakers.

Find out more in our free Trail Blazers vs. Lakers NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, November 30.

Trail Blazers vs Lakers best odds

Trail Blazers vs Lakers picks and predictions

After all the scrutiny over his durability and shooting woes, Anthony Davis has responded impressively this year — and it’s no coincidence that the Lakers’ improved recent results have come in games where Davis has been aggressive. 

Averaging 26 points and almost 13 rebounds a night, the 29-year-old has found a higher gear over the past two weeks, including a 38-point explosion against the Detroit Pistons and a 37-point night in Phoenix.

Davis embraced center stage while LeBron James was sidelined this month and has maintained his hot streak even since The King’s return. Tonight’s game should help Davis pad his numbers further. Playing at center, he’ll have the upper hand from an athleticism standpoint in his matchup against Jusuf Nurkic – getting out in transition, attacking from the perimeter and grabbing offensive rebounds.

If the Blazers switch a smaller defender onto him (like Grant or Justise Winslow), I expect Davis to go to work in the post for easy buckets. He should be busy at the free-throw line too — and if Nurkic gets in foul trouble, the backup options don’t bode well for Portland.

Whether it’s James, Russell Westbrook, or Kendrick Nunn running the offense, the Lakers are making it a point to feed Davis all the touches he can handle. He led the way with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting against the Pacers while grabbing 13 boards.

With the Blazers likely to have some fatigue after playing in Portland last night then hopping on a plane to Los Angeles, I see Davis being the standout performer and filling up the stat sheet.

My best bet: Anthony Davis Over 24.5 points (-110)

Trail Blazers vs Lakers spread analysis

The oddsmakers haven’t lost faith in the Lakers, even as the results continue to be a mixed bag. Darvin Ham’s men are set as clear favorites tonight, with a line that’s surprisingly high given that the Blazers should arrive with an edge after losing a winnable game against the LA Clippers last night, in which Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant both topped the 30-point mark. Portland was cruising but had no answer for former Blazer Norman Powell in the fourth quarter.

Yes, the absence of Lillard takes some of the pop out of the Blazers’ offense, but Chauncey Billups’ group plays hard and has the type of wing defenders who can at least hang with James.

LeBron is still feeling his way back after an adductor injury and made just eight of his 22 shots against the Pacers. He should be more efficient tonight, but it’s tough to feel good about laying points with this unpredictable Lakers team, even after one of Westbrook’s better games of the year (24 points, six assists).

I envision a close battle, especially as the last three contests have been decided by a combined nine points.

Trail Blazers vs Lakers Over/Under analysis

With the Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back set, the Under has real appeal. The recent numbers support that bet too, with the Under hitting in Portland’s last five road games against a team with a losing home record, and in 12 of the Blazers’ last 16 road games overall.

Likewise, the Under is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last five games and 7-1 in the last eight meetings between these teams. The hosts’ 3-point shooting percentage (32%) is still in the bottom three in the league and that flaw has stifled the Lakers against above-average defenses.

Also, keep in mind that Portland’s offense has blown hot and cold without Lillard running the show and spacing the floor with his 3-point shooting. The Blazers have failed to reach 100 points in two of their last four games, but erupted for 132 points in an overtime win in New York.

Trail Blazers vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Lakers have had some joy feasting on weaker opponents this month but are 0-6 ATS in their last six games against teams with a winning SU record (and the Blazers just about fall into that category at 11-10).

Trail Blazers vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Lakers have had some joy feasting on weaker opponents this month but are 0-6 ATS in their last six games against teams with a winning SU record (and the Blazers just about fall into that category at 11-10). Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Lakers.

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