The Portland Trail Blazers (6-1) take on the Los Angeles Lakers (7-2) Friday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET (Prime Video). Let's analyze NBA odds around the Trail Blazers vs. Lakers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Trail Blazers lead 1-0
Portland dominated the Phoenix Suns 132-119 Wednesday while covering as a 2.5-point road favorite as the Over (227.5) cashed. Three Blazers scored over 20 points and F Deni Avdija and C Donovan Clingan each recorded double-doubles. Portland has won 3 straight and is averaging 125 points per game in its wins this season.
Los Angeles picked up a 116-103 win over the Sacramento Kings Wednesday, covering as a 12.5-point
road favorite while the Under (233.5) hit. G Luka Doncic continued his MVP campaign, finishing with 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Lakers have won 3 straight, and Doncic has scored at least 40 points in all 3 wins.
When these teams met Oct. 27, the Blazers won 136-129 in LA in a game where Doncic scored 41, but the Blazers had 4 players with at least 20 points.
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Trail Blazers at Lakers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 11:23 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Trail Blazers +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Lakers -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Trail Blazers +2.5 (-105) | Lakers -2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 231.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Trail Blazers at Lakers key injuries
Trail Blazers
- G Vit Krejci (ankle) out
- G Ja Morant (hamstring) out
- G Shaedon Sharpe (knee) out
Lakers
- C Walker Kessler (finger) available
- F Sandro Mamukelashvili (illness) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Trail Blazers at Lakers picks and predictions
Prediction
Trail Blazers 130, Lakers 126
Moneyline
LEAN TRAIL BLAZERS (+125).
The Blazers have the more well-rounded team, and it's very likely that they could have multiple players finish with 20+ points against a bad Lakers defense. Doncic will be the best player on the court, but the Lakers can't rebound, they turn the ball over at an alarming rate (16.9 per game), and they are bottom 10 in defensive rating (112.9), so his performance simply won't be enough to win.
This is a lean because Doncic is playing at a level that makes it very difficult to beat the Lakers, but Doncic had an MVP-level performance when these teams last faced off and still lost, so more of the same is very possible here.
Against the spread
PASS.
The Blazers will cover here as +2.5 (-105) underdogs, but it isn't worth backing them here when I am picking Portland to win outright for the higher potential payout.
Over/Under
BET OVER 231.5 (-110).
These are 2 of the top 3 teams in terms of offensive rating, and both hit the 3-point ball at a high percentage while being in the top 10 in 3-point makes per game. Both teams will get whatever they want offensively in this matchup, especially when shooting from beyond the arc.
The Over has hit in all of LA's last 4 home games and is 3-2 in Portland's away games this season. The Over has also hit in all of the last 4 matchups between these squads, being 3-0 in Portland's last 3 wins over Los Angeles.
Best prop bet
Lakers G LUKA DONCIC OVER 35.5 POINTS (-125).
This is an insanely high line, but Doncic has been playing well enough to warrant it, and his recent history against Portland suggests his hot scoring streak will continue here. Doncic has scored at least 36 points in all of his last 6 games overall, and he has taken at least 21 shots in every game since the season opener. Luka has also scored at least 36 points in 4 of his last 5 matchups against the Blazers.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers odds, picks and predictions
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