Portland Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 3/5/2018

Monday, March 5, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, March 5, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Portland as 5 point favorites.

The Blazers come into this game with an overall record of 37-26. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.8 as they are averaging 105.2 points per game while giving up 103.4 per contest. The Lakers have an overall mark of 28-34. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 108.4 points per contest and giving up 110.0, which is a point differential of -1.6.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 32-28-3 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 26-37-0 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 35-27-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 34-27-1 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

03/03/18 F Maurice Harkless Knee is "?" Monday vs LA Lakers

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

03/03/18 F Brandon Ingram Hip is "?" Monday vs Portland
03/01/18 G Josh Hart Hand is out indefinitely
02/17/18 F Channing Frye Appendix is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averages 26.4 points per game in 36.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6.5 assists per contest and 4.5 rebounds per game for Portland. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 91%. C.J. McCollum comes into this contest averaging 21.7 points per game while playing 36.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Blazers. He pulls down 3.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 86%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma averages 15.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.9 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 69%. Brandon Ingram averages 16.2 points per game while playing 33.8 minutes per contest this year for the Lakers. He grabs 5.4 rebounds per game and has 3.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 69%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers allow 103.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 5th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 14th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43 rebounds a game which ranks 16th, and they give up 20.2 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 12.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league. Portland averages 105.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.84 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 21st. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 4th in the league. They average 45 rebounds per game and 19.1 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 22nd with 13.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers surrender 110 points per contest, which ranks them 26th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 23.3 assists allowed per contest, and 24th with 45 rebounds surrendered per game. The Lakers are 19th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per game this season. Los Angeles is 9th in the league with 108.4 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.61. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 46.4 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 23.9. The Lakers are 2nd in turnovers per game with 16.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 106.5, and their offensive rating of 108.4 is ranked 25th. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 21st. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 22nd in the NBA. Portland is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 26th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 5th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the NBA. The Lakers are 23rd in the league in defensive rating with 107.8, and their offensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 20th. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 17th. As a unit they are 21st in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 20th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Los Angeles +5

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