Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 10/18/2018

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Moda Center to play the Portland Blazers on Thursday, October 18, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Portland as 3 point favorites.

The Lakers come into this game after finishing last season with an overall record of 35-47. They were 3rd in the Pacific Division. They had a point differential of -1.5 as they averaged 108.1 points per game while giving up 109.6 per contest. The Blazers had an overall mark of 49-33 last year. They were 1st in the Northwest Division. They averaged 105.6 points per contest and gave up 103.0, which was a point differential of 2.6.

Valuable Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers were 43-38-1 against the spread last season

The Los Angeles Lakers were 44-38-0 against the over/under last year

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers were 45-34-7 against the spread last season

The Portland Blazers were 38-48-0 against the over/under last year

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

10/17/18 G Evan Turner Shoulder is questionable Thursday vs LA Lakers
10/17/18 F Maurice Harkless Knee is questionable Thursday vs LA Lakers

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma averaged 16.1 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest last season. He averaged 1.8 assists per contest and 6.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was 45% for the year while his free throw percentage was 71%. LeBron James comes into this contest after averaging 27.5 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per night last season. He pulled down 8.6 rebounds per game and dished out 9.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage was 54% while his free throw percentage was at 73%.

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averaged 26.9 points per game last season and he saw the court an average of 36.6 minutes per contest. He also averaged 4.5 rebounds per contest and 6.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 44% and his free throw percentage was 92%. CJ McCollum averaged 21.4 points per game while playing 36.1 minutes per contest last year. He grabbed 4.0 rebounds per game and had 3.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage was 44% and his free throw percentage finished at 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers allowed 109.6 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 25th in the league. They also allowed a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 10th and 3rd in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 44.8 rebounds a game which ranked 24th, and they gave up 23.6 assists per contest which put them in 16th place in the league. They forced 14.3 turnovers per game which ranked them 15th in the league. Los Angeles averaged 108.1 points per contest last season, which ranked them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin was -1.6 and their shooting percentage was 46% as a team, which had them ranked 14th. Behind the arc they shot 35% which was good for 29th in the league. They averaged 46.4 rebounds per game and 23.8 assists per game, which ranked them 2nd and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 2nd with 15.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers surrendered 103.0 points per contest, which ranked them 5th in the NBA. Their defense allowed a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 16th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 2nd with 20.2 assists allowed per contest, and 13th with 42.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blazers were 2nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per game last season. Portland was 16th in the league with 105.6 points per game last year. They were 20th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin was 2.6. They shot 37% from 3-point range, which was good for 11th in the NBA. They were 3rd in the league in rebounding with 45.5 boards per game and 30th in assists per contest with 19.5. The Blazers were 23rd in turnovers per game with 13.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Lakers were 23rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.5, and their defensive rating of 108 was ranked 12th last season. In terms of pace they were 2nd in the league with 100.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% was 16th. As a team they were 19th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shot 3 pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league. Los Angeles was 6th in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 51%, which was 21st in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Portland was 25th in the league in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 50%, which was 27th in the NBA. The Blazers were 15th in the league in defensive rating with 106.4, and their offensive rating of 109.1 was ranked 8th. They were 19th in the NBA in pace with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% was 23rd. As a unit they were 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Portland -3

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