Los Angeles at Portland NBA Odds Analysis

On Saturday night, the Portland Trail Blazers host the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal round. The Clippers dismantled the Trail Blazers in Game 2, 102-81, to take a 2-0 series lead. The Trail Blazers had an upset in this series on their minds when things started, but they haven’t played the Clippers close yet. Find out the latest NBA betting lines here.

Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers NBA Odds Analysis

When: Saturday, April 23, 2016, 10:30pm Eastern time Where: Moda Center, Portland, OR TV: ESPN Radio: Rip City Radio 620 AM Portland Live Stream: NBA-Stream.com NBA Odds: TBA    

Why should you bet on Los Angeles?

The return of Blake Griffin has made the Clippers a real contender. His offense inside, his mid-range jumper and his aggressive defense have given the Clippers an element they were missing, even as they were piling up wins. In Game 2, though, it was the bench that dominated the game. Jamal Crawford, who just won the Sixth Man of the Year award, put up 11 points, while Jeff Green chipped in 10. The bench started the second quarter and went on a 12-2 run to open the period. So even on a night when the starters were not as dominant, the Clippers were still able to deliver a rout.

Why should you put your money on the Trail Blazers?

C.J. McCollum found some more space in Game 2, moving from nine points in Game 1 to 16 in Game 2. Mason Plumlee and Damian Lillard each put in 17 — and Plumlee had 10 boards, as did Al-Farouq Aminu. The problem was in the shooting, as the Trail Blazers only made 34.1 percent of their shots, their worst percentage of the season. So while the Trail Blazers may only have led at the 2-0 point in Game 2, if they can improve their offensive execution, it’s not like the Clippers are running all over them in terms of point totals.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I think that Portland will play a more spirited game in front of their fans and show even more commitment on the boards and on defense. However, I still think the Clippers will win; I’m predicting a 111-106 Los Angeles victory.