San Antonio Spurs at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/20/2017

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The San Antonio Spurs travel to Moda Center to play the Portland Blazers on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 3.5 point favorites.

The Spurs head into this matchup with a mark of 21-10. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.4 as they are averaging 101.5 points per contest while giving up 98.1 per game. The Blazers have an overall record of 16-14. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.8 points per game and surrendering 100.8, good for a point differential of 2.0.

Valuable San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 15-15-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 13-18-0 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 14-14-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 9-21-0 against the over/under

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

12/18/17 G Danny Green Groin is "?" Wednesday vs Portland
12/04/17 G Kyle Anderson Knee is out indefinitely

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

LaMarcus Aldridge averages 22.3 points per game in 33.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2 assists per contest and 8.4 rebounds per game for San Antonio. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. Pau Gasol comes into this contest averaging 10.2 points per game while playing 24.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Spurs. He pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%.

Player Spotlight

C.J. McCollum averages 21.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4 rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 88%. Damian Lillard averages 25.5 points per game while playing 37.2 minutes per contest this year for the Blazers. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 6.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage currently is at 93%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Spurs allow 98.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 6th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.3 rebounds a game which ranks 6th, and they give up 21 assists per contest which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league. San Antonio averages 101.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.35 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 14th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 19th in the league. They average 44.5 rebounds per game and 22.4 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 22nd with 14.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers surrender 100.8 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 18.2 assists allowed per contest, and 7th with 41.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blazers are 1st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per game this season. Portland is 23rd in the league with 102.8 points per game this year. They are 23rd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 2.03. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 9th in the NBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 45.4 boards per game and 30th in assists per contest with 18.2. The Blazers are 14th in turnovers per game with 15.

Advanced Statistics

The Spurs are 15th in the league in defensive rating with 103.8, and their offensive rating of 107.4 is ranked 28th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 94.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 19th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA. San Antonio is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 17th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 29th in the NBA. The Blazers are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 103.9, and their offensive rating of 106 is ranked 27th. They are 18th in the NBA in pace with 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 25th. As a unit they are 22nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 27th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Spurs/Blazers NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take San Antonio -3.5

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