The Portland Trail Blazers (44-40) will be at home when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers (55-29) in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Action gets underway at 10:30 pm ET on Saturday, Apr. 23 and can be seen on ESP, PRI and POR.
The Trail Blazers were blown out by the Clippers 102-81 on Wednesday. Mason Plumlee had a good game in defeat for Portland, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds to earn his 16th double-double of the season.
The Trail Blazers enter the game with records of 44-40 both Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS). They are 7-3 ATS over their last 10 games. The Trail Blazers have a distinct advantage on the boards in this matchup. They are the fifth-ranked rebounding team in the NBA, averaging 45.5 per game, while the Clippers rank 25th in the league with 42.2 per game. The most recent 10 game stretch for the Trail Blazers has gone great. Over that span, Portland’s opponents are averaging 95.4 points per game, well under their season average of 104.4.
On the other side, the Clippers have a record of 42-40-2 ATS and 55-29 SU. Los Angeles has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 3-7 record. 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 107.5 points per game during the last 10 games, higher than their season average of 99.9. Los Angeles’s defense is one of the top in the league, with opponents shooting only .432 from the field.
With the Clippers’ last win against Portland, their SU record is now 8-2 over the Trail Blazers in the last 10 meetings. With a 6-4 record, the Clippers also have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAC
Notes
On average, Los Angeles scores 104.6 points per game (ranked seventh). Portland ranks 20th in points allowed per game with 104.4.
Los Angeles puts up an average of 104.2 points per away game (ranked sixth). Portland ranks 20th in points allowed per home game with 102.3.
The Portland Trail Blazers have a winning record (22-5) when their opponents score fewer than 100 points this season. The Los Angeles Clippers are 11-13 when they don’t hit triple digits.
The Portland Trail Blazers have a losing 22-35 record in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Los Angeles Clippers are 44-16 when they hit triple digits.
The Trail Blazers have an offensive rating of 106.4 (ranked seventh). The Clippers rank sixth for their defensive rating of 101.4.
Portland averages 98.4 possessions per game, scoring 1.064 points on each possession. While Los Angeles averages fewer possessions per game with 97.5, the team scores more points per possession with 1.073.
The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best effective field goal percentages this season, ranking fourth in the league with an EFF% of 52.4%. When their opponents record a similar or higher EFF%, the Portland Trail Blazers have a subpar 9-23 record.
On average, the Los Angeles Clippers make 22.8 assists per game and the Portland Trail Blazers make 21.3. Los Angeles is ranked 11th, while Portland is ranked 21st.
The Portland Trail Blazers average 4.6 blocks per game for a rank of 18th. The Los Angeles Clippers rank higher (10th), earning 5.7 blocks each contest.
The Portland Trail Blazers are among the best offensive rebounding teams in the league (ranked fourth). The Los Angeles Clippers are in the top half of NBA teams in defensive rebounding (ranked 15th).
The Los Angeles Clippers earn an average of 8.6 steals per game and are ranked eighth. The Portland Trail Blazers have a 20-19 record when they allow at least 8 steals.
