NBA Betting – Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers November 7

The Los Angeles Clippers play the second of a rare back-to-back home set when they entertain the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. With Kawhi Leonard taking a seat for Wednesday’s loss to Milwaukee, he’ll be back on the court when the Western Conference heavyweights meet for the first time this season. The Blazers will have the benefit of additional rest since they haven’t played since falling to the Warriors on Monday night, their second straight setback and third in four games to leave them below .500. With Leonard back on the floor, the Clips opened as 5.5-point favorite on the NBA betting lines.

Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers

Date and Time: Thursday, November 7, 2019, 10:30 p.m. ET

Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Opening NBA Odds: Los Angeles -5.5, O/U 224.5

Trail Blazers at Clippers TV Coverage: TNT

Odds Analysis

The Blazers were undefeated against the spread and 3-1 SU before running into the juggernaut known as Golden State in their last game. Wait, that’s not exactly the case this season with the Warriors starting no players from last year’s team that reached the NBA Finals for a fifth straight season. So Portland promptly went out and laid an egg against the new-look Dubs, dropping their second straight overall, 127-118. The Blazers average over 114 points per game and have cashed the over in five of their last six games. The Clippers opened as a 5.5-point favorite after losing for the first time at home on Wednesday, 129-124, to the Bucks. The Clips are 4-1 SU and ATS on their home floor this season.

Portland Trail Blazers

Many consider the Blazers a threat in the West after they advanced to the conference finals last season. That may end up being the case, but they better play more inspired and not take anything for granted. Given the shakeup in Golden State, the Blazers probably felt they could waltz into the Dubs’ new digs and roll to a win. That wasn’t the case and Portland exited with its tail between its legs after a 127-118 loss.

“We got outplayed start to finish, I would say. We had some moments in the game, but we played like we just thought we were going to march in here and win the game. That’s a tough loss,” Damian Lillard said after the setback. Dame did his best to stem the tide scoring 39 points on 15 of 26 shooting, reaching the 30-point mark for the fourth time in seven games. He leads the team scoring 31.1 points per game.

The backcourt of Lillard and C.J. McCollum is one of the best in the NBA. McCollum averages 20.7 points per outing, but his shooting has stumbled out of the gate. C.J. is making just over 40 percent from the field and his three-point average of 36.8 percent is well below his career number of 40.1 percent. The Blazers loaded up on perimeter shooters in the offseason and the offense has been efficient. Defensively, they haven’t stopped anyone giving up an average of 128 over the last two games.

Los Angeles Clippers

Without Leonard in the lineup the Clippers have yet to win. He’s expected to play against the Blazers and the odds of getting a win improve drastically. With the blessing of the NBA office, Leonard was given a day of rest on Wednesday and the Clips were upended by the Bucks 129-124. They lost just a week ago to Utah, 110-96, when Leonard didn’t play. It makes a great statement for his MVP chances, but hinders the Clips in the win/loss column.

The season is a marathon not a sprint, and after the Raptors won the NBA title last season by limiting Kawhi’s minutes, the Clips are doing the same. They are also close to getting Paul George back on the floor. He won’t be available on Thursday, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

With Leonard not playing against Milwaukee, Montrezl Harrell moved into the starting lineup and had a dominant effort with 34 points and 13 rebounds. The move affected the bench with LA’s reserves getting outscored 47-20 by their Milwaukee counterparts. It’s the first time that’s happened this season. Harrell likely returns to the bench on Thursday, bolstering the Clips’ second-unit.

Bet Trail Blazers at Clippers at BookMaker.eu

It’s obvious what Leonard means to the Clippers and his return to the floor makes them a better unit all the way around. He’s a great perimeter defender, can score the basketball, and he also makes the bench a stronger group. Harrell is a beast and he’ll counter Whiteside. The defense of Kawhi and Patrick Beverley will hound Lillard and McCollum, and the Clips will get back in the win column with a home cover.

NBA Score Prediction: Los Angeles 118, Portland 110

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