The Portland Trail Blazers are set to take on the San Antonio Spurs this Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center, with an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. This matchup marks the second meeting of the season, as the Spurs currently lead the series 1-0.
The Trail Blazers have found some momentum, winning three of their last four games, including a decisive 122-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans last Friday. In that game, Deni Avdija led the team with an impressive performance, scoring 34 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists. Additionally, Donovan Clingan contributed significantly with a double-double, posting 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Spurs are also coming off back-to-back victories, having beaten the Indiana Pacers 123-113 on Friday. Despite being without their star player Victor Wembanyama due to a knee injury, De’Aaron Fox stepped up, leading the team with 24 points. Dylan Harper added 22 points off the bench as the Spurs overcame a 9-point deficit to secure the win.
As for the betting odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook, the Trail Blazers are seen as underdogs, with a moneyline of +230 compared to the Spurs’ -295. The point spread reflects this sentiment, with the Trail Blazers at +7.5 and the Spurs at -7.5. The Over/Under is set at 236.5.
In terms of injuries, the Trail Blazers will be without key players including Jerami Grant and Scoot Henderson, while the Spurs will also miss Devin Vassell in addition to Wembanyama.
Predictions for this game suggest a close contest, with an expected score of Spurs 116, Trail Blazers 109. While the Spurs are favored, there may be value for the Trail Blazers to cover the spread of +7.5 given their recent scoring ability and the Spurs’ ongoing adjustments in light of Wembanyama’s absence. The under bet at 236.5 is also recommended, considering both teams’ recent trends of hitting the Under in several games.
With both teams looking to solidify their standings, fans can expect an exciting matchup filled with competitive basketball action.