The Portland Trail Blazers (23-21) take on the Indiana Pacers (24-20) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The game is scheduled to get underway at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
Portland is a 3.5-point favorite on the opening line, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 214 points.
Indiana Pacers vs. Portland Trail Blazers Free Prediction
In the Pacers’ last contest, they beat the Utah Jazz, 109-94. The Pacers, who came into the game averaging an effective field goal percentage of 0.537, had a ridiculous mark of 0.623 and had a better offensive rebounding percentage (21.6 vs. 20.5). Indiana was lifted by Victor Oladipo, who was the top scorer from either team with 28 points on 9-for-16 shooting.
The Trail Blazers beat the Phoenix Suns in their last game, 118-111. Portland’s turnover percentage was their largest strength over Phoenix. The Trail Blazers had a rate of 8.6 (better than their season average of 12.7), while the Suns posted a mark of 11.6. Damian Lillard was Portland’s leading scorer with 31 points on 11-for-19 shooting.
Points at the line could be hard to come by for Portland in this showdown. The Trail Blazers rank 16th in the NBA with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.191, while Indiana ranks third in FTA rate allowed (0.166).
Indiana comes into the game with records of 24-20 straight up (SU) and 25-19 against the spread (ATS). Vegas has a tendency to set the total high when the Pacers are involved, as 25 of their 44 games have finished under the projected point total.
Meanwhile, Portland owns records of 23-21 SU and 19-21-4 ATS. Games involving the Trail Blazers also tend to go under the total (59.1 percent).
Domantas Sabonis has averaged 14.6 points and 10.4 rebounds over the last five games for Indiana.
This will be the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, Al-Farouq Aminu put up 16 points and 16 rebounds and the Trail Blazers defeated the Pacers 114-96, covering as 6-point favorites. The game finished with a total of 210 points, which was 8 points below the projected point total of 218 points. The Trail Blazers had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (25.0 vs. 13.0) and had a better turnover percentage (8.1 vs. 11.5).
Indiana Pacers vs. Portland Trail Blazers Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Trail Blazers, ATS Winner – Trail Blazers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes:
On the road, Indiana is 12-8 ATS with 10 overs and 10 unders.
At home, Portland is 6-12-3 ATS with 14 unders and 7 overs.
Indiana is 14-1 when they allow less than 100 points, while Portland is 14-4.
In games where they reach 100 points, the Trail Blazers are 18-11 and the Pacers are 21-9.
Indiana ranks third in fast break points per game (15.0) while Portland ranks last (6.4).
The Trail Blazers rank third in three pointers allowed per game (25.9) while the Pacers rank 24th (30.8).
Indiana ranks fifth in points off turnovers per game (18.2) while Portland ranks 23rd (15.3).
The Trail Blazers rank first in assists allowed per game (19.8) while the Pacers rank 19th (23.3).
Portland averages 5.2 blocks per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. Indiana ranks 20th in blocks allowed per game (5.2).
The Pacers rank 15th in steals per game (7.8) while the Trail Blazers rank 26th (6.9).
Portland ranks 13th in second chance points per game (12.5) while Indiana ranks 19th in second chance points allowed per game (12.7).
The Trail Blazers rank 22nd in points in the paint per game (42.0) while the Pacers rank 24th in points allowed in the paint per game (46.4).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Indiana is 4-1 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over.
Portland is 1-4 ATS with 5 overs over their last five games.
The Pacers’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 9.0, up from 1.4 for the season.
During their last five games, the Trail Blazers have scored an average of 112.6 points per game (8.6 above their season average) and allowed an average of 115.4 points per game (12.1 above their season average).
