The Los Angeles Clippers head to the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Action starts at 10:30 pm ET on Monday, Apr. 25 and can be seen on TNT, PRI and POR.
The Trail Blazers enter this game hoping for similar success after defeating the Clippers 96-88 on Saturday. Damian Lillard was the game’s high scorer with 32 points on 10-for-20 shooting.
The Trail Blazers enter the game with records of 45-40 both Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS). They have a record of 45-40 both SU and ATS versus the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers have a distinct advantage on the boards in this matchup. They are the fifth-ranked rebounding team in the NBA, averaging 45.6 per game, while the Clippers rank 25th in the league with 42.3 per game. Over their past 10 games, Portland’s defense has been playing lights out, only allowing 93.1 points per game, well under their season average of 104.2.
Across the court, the Clippers have a record of 42-41-2 ATS and 55-30 SU. Los Angeles has records of 55-30 SU and 42-41-2 ATS against the West. When it comes to making good decisions with the ball, not many are better than the Clippers. They have one of the top assist-to-turnover ratios in the league at 1.85. Los Angeles’s defense has allowed an average of 107.0 points per game during the last 10 games, higher than their season average of 99.9. The Clippers have one of the best opponent field-goal percentages in the league at .432.
The Trail Blazers’ win over Los Angeles in their last game couldn’t give them the edge in the head-to-head record over the past 10 meetings, where the Clippers still lead 7-3 SU. Additionally, the Clippers lead the matchup ATS with a record of 6-4.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAC
Notes
On average, Los Angeles scores 104.4 points per game (ranked seventh). Portland ranks 20th in points allowed per game with 104.2.
Portland ranks 18th in points allowed per home game (102.0 PPG), while Los Angeles ranks sixth in points per away game with 103.8.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Clippers are 42-4 on the season. When the Trail Blazers score fewer than 100, they are an underachieving 5-21.
The Los Angeles Clippers have a losing 13-26 record in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Portland Trail Blazers are 40-19 when they hit the century mark.
The Trail Blazers have a defensive rating of 106.1 (ranked 14th), while the Clippers rank sixth for their offensive rating of 107.1.
The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best field goal percentages this season, ranking sixth in the league with a FG% of 46.5%. When their opponents record a similar or higher FG%, the Portland Trail Blazers have a losing 11-24 record.
Portland attempts an average of 28.0 three pointers per game, and Los Angeles attempts 26.0 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Trail Blazers have a 36-27 record while the Clippers have a 31-21 record.
The Portland Trail Blazers rank 23rd with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.52. The Los Angeles Clippers have a higher A/TO (1.85), ranking third.
The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the best rebounding teams in the league, earning 45.6 rebounds per game (ranked fifth). The Los Angeles Clippers rank 25th, rebounding 42.3 times each game.
Portland is ranked ninth in defensive rebounds, while Los Angeles ranks 29th in offensive rebounds.
Los Angeles is one of the best in the league in forcing turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 15.0% (ranked seventh). Portland is an even 15-15 SU when it has a TOV% of 15.0% or greater.
