Cleveland Cavaliers at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 3/15/2018

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to Moda Center to take on the Portland Blazers on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The opening line for this game has Portland as 3.5 point favorites.

The Cavaliers head into this matchup with a mark of 39-28. They are 2nd in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.3 as they are averaging 110.3 points per contest while giving up 110.0 per game. The Blazers have an overall mark of 41-26. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 105.8 points per contest and giving up 103.1, which is a point differential of 2.7.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 22-44-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 33-32-2 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 36-28-3 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 28-39-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

03/13/18 F Larry Nance Jr. Hamstring left last game, is "?" Thursday vs Portland
03/13/18 G Rodney Hood Back is "?" Thursday vs Portland
03/04/18 C Tristan Thompson Ankle is out indefinitely
01/30/18 F Kevin Love Hand is out indefinitely

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jordan Clarkson comes into this game averaging 14.3 points per contest while playing 23.3 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 2.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 79%. Lebron James averages 26.9 points per contest in 37 minutes per game this year. He averages 9 assists per game and 8.5 rebounds per contest for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 54% for the season while his free throw percentage is 73%.

Player Spotlight

C.J. McCollum has scored 21.7 points per contest while playing 36 minutes per game this season for the Blazers. He hauls in 3.9 rebounds per contest and has 3.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Damian Lillard averages 26.9 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 36.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.5 rebounds per game and 6.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 91%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 110.3 points per contest this year, which is 5th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.27 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 5th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They average 42 boards per contest and 23.6 assists per game, which ranks them 23rd and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 18th with 14 per game. The Cavaliers allow 110 points per contest which is 26th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 25th and 22nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.4 rebounds a game which ranks 23rd, and they allow 25.7 assists per game which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 16th in the NBA with 105.8 points per contest this season. They are 20th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 2.66. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 2nd in the league. They are 3rd in the NBA in rebounding with 45.3 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 19.2. The Blazers are 20th in turnovers per contest with 13.9. The Blazers give up 103.1 points per game, which ranks them 5th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 20.2 dimes allowed per game and 16th with 42.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 2nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 111.8, and their offensive rating of 112.1 is ranked 3rd. They are 10th in the NBA in pace with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 3rd. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA. Cleveland is 17th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 5th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 22nd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league. The Blazers are 13th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109, and their defensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 25th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 21st. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Portland -3.5

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