Portland Blazers vs. Washington Wizards - 1/3/20 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs Washington Wizards

Date: Friday, January 3, 2020

Location: Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

TV: NBC Sports Washington

Odds/Point Spread: Portland -5.5

Total/Over-Under: 218

Ish Smith and the Washington Wizards (10-23, 4th in the Southeast Division) host the Portland Trail Blazers (14-21, 4th in the Northwest Division) at Capital One Arena on Friday, January 3, 2020. Portland opens this matchup as 5.5 point favorites. The total is set at 218.

The Blazers cover the spread 39.4% of the time, having gone 13-20-2 ATS. Washington is covering 50.0% of the time, going 16-16-1 against the spread.

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/29/19 PF Skal Labissiere Knee is out indefinitely
12/25/19 PF Zach Collins Shoulder is out indefinitely
12/06/19 SG Rodney Hood Achilles is out indefinitely
10/19/19 C Jusuf Nurkic Leg is out indefinitely

Key Washington Wizards Injuries

12/31/19 SG Bradley Beal Leg is questionable Wednesday vs Orlando
12/27/19 C Thomas Bryant Foot is out indefinitely
12/23/19 PF Davis Bertans Quad is out indefinitely
12/22/19 C Moritz Wagner Ankle is out indefinitely
12/17/19 PF Rui Hachimura Groin is out indefinitely
10/18/19 PG John Wall Achilles is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averages 26.7 points per game in 36.8 minutes per contest. He averages 7.6 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%. CJ McCollum comes into this contest averaging 22.2 points per game while playing 36.5 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Player Spotlight

Bradley Beal averages 27.8 points per game and he sees the court an average of 36.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.8 rebounds per contest and 6.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Ish Smith averages 10.2 points per game while playing 25.5 minutes per contest. He grabs 2.9 rebounds per game and has 4.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 66%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers allow 114.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 23rd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 11th and 18th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.9 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they give up 23.5 assists per contest which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 13.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league. Portland averages 112.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -2.0 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 19th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 10th in the league. They average 46.3 rebounds per game and 19.7 assists per contest, which ranks them 9th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 27th with 13.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wizards surrender 121.0 points per contest, which ranks them 30th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 49% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 30th and 29th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 26.4 assists allowed per contest, and 24th with 46.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wizards are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.9 per game. Washington is 4th in the league with 116.2 points per game this year. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -4.9. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the NBA. They are 30th in the league in rebounding with 42.0 boards per game and 5th in assists per contest with 26.4. The Wizards are 24th in turnovers per game with 13.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 112, and their offensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 22nd. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 101.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 19th. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA. Portland is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 20th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Washington is 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 56%, which is 1st in the league. The Wizards are 5th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112, and their defensive rating of 116.7 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 13th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Portland -5.5

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