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The Portland Trail Blazers will travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers on Tuesday night. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Blazers-Pacers prediction and pick.
Portland has lost five straight and eight of its last 10 games coming in. The Blazers have high expectations every season and will have to use this game as a catapult to turn things around down the stretch. Indiana will look for its fourth straight win against the reeling Blazers tonight.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Blazers-Pacers odds.
NBA Odds: Blazers-Pacers Odds
Portland Trail Blazers -4.5 (-115)
Over 234.5 Points (-110)
Under 234.5 Points (-110)
Why The Blazers Could Cover The Spread
The Portland Trail Blazers are going through an uncharacteristic losing streak that couldn't come at a worse time. Their current five-game losing streak has been dreadful as this team has been in most games. They've been close to breaking the skid a few times, but have managed to implode in crunch time. The three losses in the middle of the streak have come by a total of just four points. Damian Lillard has to pick up the slack and play out of this world to get his team back on track.
Portland took a dip in the standings with the two-straight losses against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis now sits just one game behind the Blazers in the Western Conference and has a good chance to surpass Portland late in the season. In Portland's last loss, they did some promising performances from some key players. CJ McCollum led the way for the Blazers with 27 points in the defeat. Jusuf Nurkic had a huge double-double with 16 points and 19 rebounds and three other Blazers were in double figures. Portland has to take advantage of a Pacers team that will be without Damontis Sabonis tonight.
Why The Pacers Could Cover The Spread
The Indiana Pacers continue to play competitive basketball despite missing the entirety of their front-court production. The Pacers have pulled off three-straight wins, which is impressive even if the wins were against the Thunder, Pistons, and Magic. Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert have carried this team over the recent stretch with key contributions. What's been most promising for this team has been the emergence of Oshae Brissett, though.
In four starts, Brissett is averaging 15 points and 9.3 rebounds per game on 40.9% shooting from deep. His versatility has been much needed for this Pacersteam that currently lacks the depth to compete for 48 minutes. He will need to continue this production for the foreseeable future with Myles Turner and Domantis Sabonis out of action. Indiana currently sits in the ninth seed out east and has a chance to surpass the reeling Hornets late. Indiana has a comfortable lead over the teams looking in and will look for a few more wins to solidify their play-in birth.
Final Blazers-Pacers Prediction & Pick
It's tough to pick against a hot team in Indiana, but their injury woes and lack of depth concern me against a Blazers team in need of a bounce-back performance. Indiana has been horrible at home with a record of 8-20 ATS there on the season. The Pacers are also 10-17 ATS as an underdog and don't match up well with Portland. The Blazers have an advantage in the backcourt and a huge advantage in the frontcourt. Damian Lillard will go off tonight.
FINAL PICK: Portland Trail Blazers -4.5 (-115)
