The Portland Trail Blazers (38-29) host the San Antonio Spurs (32-34) on Saturday night in a pivotal contest for the Western Conference playoff chase. Portland defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at home behind a game-high 38 points from superstar guard Damian Lillard. It was the first time all season that fans at Moda Center were in attendance, as the stadium was filled to 10 percent capacity. You can check out more about Portland in this Spurs vs. Blazers prediction and the NBA odds for the game in this piece.
San Antonio also won on Friday evening, as DeMar DeRozan dropped a game-best 25 points to take down the host Sacramento Kings. The Spurs had lost five straight before Friday’s victory. They sit in 10th place in the West, which would earn them a spot in the NBA’s inaugural play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the sixth-seeded Trail Blazers are hoping to avoid the play-in tournament—which features the 7-10 seeds in the conference.
With both teams entering a back-to-back contest, here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Spurs-Trail Blazers odds.
NBA Odds: Spurs at Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs +6 (-107)
Portland Trail Blazers -6 (-113)
Over 230.5 points (-110)
Under 230.5 points (-110)
Why the Spurs can cover the spread
The Spurs are looking to fend off the 11th-place New Orleans Pelicans in the West’s playoff hunt. The Pelicans could be without star Zion Williamson (left fractured finger) for the remainder of the season, while Brandon Ingram (low left ankle sprain) is day-to-day.
With the Spurs already 2.5 games above the injury-ravaged Pelicans and just over a week remaining in the NBA regular season, a win over the Blazers on Saturday would create some separation in the standings.
The Spurs made a change to their starting lineup for Friday's win over the Kings, with Lonnie Walker replacing Devin Vassell. Given that the Spurs came out victorious, it’s likely they keep Walker in the starting-5 against the Blazers.
San Antonio has beaten the spread more often than not this season, producing a mark of 36-29-1. For the Spurs to cover, DeRozan must continue to play like a star. Additionally, center Jakob Poeltl will need to slow down Portland’s big men. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic and backup Enes Kanter are both above-average scorers.
Poeltl is playing the best basketball of his career, producing 14 double-doubles in 46 starts (64 games played). He has blocked three or more shots a whopping 20 times this season, including a 4-block outing on Friday.
The Spurs could find success against the Blazers’ 22nd ranked defense, especially if point guard Dejounte Murray can muster another all-around performance. Murray scored 22 points and added seven dimes on Friday. He will be tasked with defending Lillard on the other end of the floor.
The key to victory for the Spurs will likely be their ability to contain C.J. McCollum. DeRozan is a subpar defender and therefore the team might throw second-year forward Keldon Johnson up against McCollum. Johnson excels as a wing defender and could make life difficult for McCollum, who is enjoying the best season of his career.
Why the Trail Blazers can cover the spread
Portland is fresh off arguably its biggest win of the season, beating the Lakers and moving a full game ahead of the defending champions in the standings. The Trail Blazers cannot afford to let their foot off the gas with the regular season almost over.
When favored by 6 or more points this season, the Trail Blazers are 7-4 against the spread. Although the Trail Blazers beat the Lakers, they were unable to cover the 8-point spread.
Lillard should be in store for a monster game on Saturday evening. In his lone appearance with the Spurs this season, he exploded for 35 points with six assists—albeit in a lopsided defeat.
Lillard has scored 32+ points in four of his last five games played. That’s bad news for San Antonio, which ranks in the bottom-10 defensively against point guards this season.
Final Spurs-Blazers Prediction & Pick
The Blazers are clicking at the right time as the season nears a close. They have too much firepower for the Spurs—who will be playing their second road tilt in as many nights—to handle. While this game will not be a blowout, the Spurs fail to cover. The Trail Blazers win 115-106, covering the spread as the under (230.5 points) hits.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR SPURS-BLAZERS: POR 115, SAS 106 (POR -6.0)
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