The LA Clippers host Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers in a game that could potentially serve as a preview for a first-round matchup in the playoffs.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, April 7, at 10 AM, Manila time.
HOME TEAM: LA Clippers (33-18, 18-8 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Reggie Jackson
- SG: Paul George
- SF: Marcus Morris Sr.
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- C: Ivica Zubac
The Clippers took full advantage of the absences of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the side of the Los Angeles Lakers to score a 104-86 home win over the Purple and Gold on Monday. The Clippers will host Portland this Wednesday with a 16-16 record against the spread following a straight-up win.
Another plus for the Clippers is that they have both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George healthy again of late. The superstar duo had a solid performance in a 128-105 home win over the Blazers back in December. Leonard scored 28 points to go with seven assists and three steals in that game, while George came away with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while shooting 4 of 9 from behind the arc.
That’s the kind of showing PG3 is hoping to come up with this Wednesday. George is coming off a mediocre outing in the Lakers game, scoring 16 points on a salty 6-of-14 shooting from the field. The Clippers held Portland to only 42.1 FG% in the first meeting.
ROAD TEAM: Portland Trail Blazers (30-19, 15-9 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Damian Lillard
- SG: CJ McCollum
- SF: Norman Powell
- PF: Robert Covington
- C: Jusuf Nurkic
The Trail Blazers showed no mercy and destroyed the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 133-85 home win last Sunday. It was a fantastic way for Portland to get back in winning ways after seeing its four-game win streak snapped in a 127-109 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
The Blazers are now 3-1 against the spread in their last four games overall and 6-4 ATS in their last 10. Despite the win, Damian Lillard can’t be too happy about his performance, as he scored just 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting. CJ McCollum, on the other hand, led the team with 20 points (8-14 FG). Lillard can get it going again when he meets the Clippers Wednesday.
He definitely is aching to play the Clippers again, as he shot just 3 of 14 in the last meeting with them on his way to finishing 20 points on the strength of a 14-of-15 performance from the charity stripe. The Blazers have averaged 115.5 points in their last 10 games.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread:
Portland has looked amazing of late, going 5-1 in its last six. I like the Blazers covering the spread as 5.5-point underdogs.
Over/Under:
The Clippers and the Blazers are two of the best offensive teams right now. Take the over 226.
