Portland Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/17/2018

Monday, December 17, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, December 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles as 1.5 point favorites.

The Blazers have a record of 16-13. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.4 as they average 111.6 points per game while giving up 110.2 per contest. The Clippers have an overall mark of 17-12. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They total 113.9 points per contest and give up 113.5, which is a point differential of 0.4.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 14-15-0 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 15-14-0 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Clippers are 16-13-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Clippers are 17-11-0 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

12/11/18 G Lou Williams Hamstring is out indefinitely
11/29/18 F Luc Mbah a Moute Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum comes into this contest averaging 21.7 points per game while playing 34.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 84%. Damian Lillard averages 26.9 points per game in 35.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6.0 assists per contest and 5.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%.

Player Spotlight

Danilo Gallinari averages 19.0 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.0 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 91%. Tobias Harris averages 20.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.1 rebounds per contest and 2.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 111.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.4 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 16th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 9th in the league. They average 48.8 rebounds per game and 21.0 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 15th with 14.3 per game. The Blazers allow 110.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 29th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 23.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 13th place in the league. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 6th in the league with 113.9 points per game this year. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 0.5. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They are 11th in the league in rebounding with 46.0 boards per game, and 24th in assists per contest with 22.2. The Clippers are 14th in turnovers per game with 14.4. The Clippers surrender 113.5 points per contest, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.0 assists allowed per contest and 23rd with 46.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Clippers were 1st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per game last season.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 8th in the league in defensive rating with 110.7, and their offensive rating of 112.1 is ranked 17th. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 18th. As a unit they are 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA. Portland is 13th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 14th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 27th in the NBA. The Clippers are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 111.3, and their offensive rating of 111.7 is ranked 20th. They are 9th in the NBA in pace with 100.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 16th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 28th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Portland +1.5

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