Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction, 8/20/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Lakers

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2020

Location: AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles -5.5

Total/Over-Under: 226.5

CJ McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers are headed to AdventHealth Arena on Thursday where they'll meet the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their series. Portland opens this contest as 5.5-point underdogs. The total is set at 226.5.

Portland pulled the upset in Game 1 by a score of 100-93 to take a 1-0 series lead over L.A. Damian Lillard paced the Blazers with 34 pts, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points, 17 boards, and 16 dimes in the loss.

The Blazers are covering the spread 45.2% of the time, having gone 33-40-3 ATS. Los Angeles is covering the spread 50.7% of the time, going 36-35-1 against the spread.

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/06/19 SG Rodney Hood Achilles is out indefinitely
08/18/20 PF Zach Collins Ankle is questionable Thursday vs LA Lakers
08/18/20 SF Nassir Little Dizziness is out indefinitely
06/28/20 SF Trevor Ariza Personal is out for season

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

08/18/20 PG Rajon Rondo Thumb is questionable Thursday vs Portland
06/28/20 SG Avery Bradley Personal is out for season

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averages 30.0 points per contest in 37.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 8.0 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 89%. CJ McCollum comes into this game averaging 22.2 points per contest while playing 36.5 minutes per night. He grabs 4.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

LeBron James averages 25.3 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.6 minutes per game. He also hauls in 7.8 rebounds per game and dishes 10.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 69%. Kyle Kuzma scores 12.8 points per contest while playing 25.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.5 rebounds per contest and has 1.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers allow 116.2 points per contest which is 26th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 39% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 29th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.9 rebounds a game which ranks 27th, and they allow 24.9 assists per game which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 12.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Portland averages 115.1 points per contest, which is 6th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.1 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 14th. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They average 45.2 boards per contest and 20.6 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 28th with 12.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers give up 107.6 points per game, which ranks them 4th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 8th and 8th in those defensive statistics. They rank 7th with 23.4 dimes allowed per game and 2nd with 42.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Lakers are 26th in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.9 per contest. Los Angeles is 11th in the NBA with 113.4 points per contest this season. They are 1st in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 5.8. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 22nd in the league. They are 9th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.7 boards per contest and 10th in assists per game with 25.4. The Lakers are 9th in turnovers per contest with 15.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 114.8, and their offensive rating of 113.8 is ranked 28th. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 14th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 16th in the NBA. Portland is 30th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 16th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 9th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 24th in the NBA. The Lakers are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 106.3, and their offensive rating of 112 is ranked 3rd. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 100.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 5th. As a unit they are 10th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 23rd in the NBA.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Los Angeles -5.5 and over 226.5 total points

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