76ers vs. Trail Blazers: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
76ers vs. Trail Blazers Odds
| 76ers Odds | -2 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | +2 |
| Over/Under | 233.5 |
| Date | Thu, Jan. 19 |
| Time | 10:00 p.m. |
| TV | NBCS |
This evening, the Philadelphia 76ers will travel to the Moda Center to play the Portland Trail Blazers. Tonight is the fourth game of a five-game west coast road trip for the 76ers, of which they have won the first three contests. Portland has won only four of their last 14 games. Oddsmakers are expecting Philadelphia to win a close game, pricing the 76ers as slim 2-point road favorites on the spread.
Philadelphia 76ers
Undefeated road trip
Though Philadelphia has won each of their first three games on their current road trip, they have not made it look easy. Last Saturday, they beat the Utah Jazz 118-117. The following night, they won their second consecutive game by one point, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 113-112. On Tuesday, they beat the Los Angeles Clippers by 10 points, but led by only two points with less than 11 minutes left in the game.
Embiid making MVP case
Entering play, Joel Embiid ranks second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 33.6 points per game. Since the calendar flipped to 2023, he is averaging 35.7 points, with zero games of fewer than 30 points in that span. Since December 9, the 76ers are 14-3 with Embiid in the lineup. After playing only 33 minutes on Tuesday, he is likely to be rested, making him poised for another strong performance against a weak Portland defense.
Portland Trail Blazers
Lillard not a magic fix
Since Damian Lillard returned to the floor on December 4, the Trail Blazers are 9-12, including losses in six of their last eight games. In that span, Portland’s only victories have come against a Dallas Mavericks team that was fresh-off of a double-overtime affair against the Lakers earlier in the week.
The team has continued to struggle, despite the fact that Lillard has scored 30 points or more in six consecutive contests. On Tuesday, he delivered 44 points on an efficient 12 for 20 shooting from the floor, but the Trail Blazers still lost by nine points to the Nuggets. Last Thursday, Lillard poured in 50 points in a loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
No help in sight
The brilliance of Lillard has gone largely unrecognized due to a lack of support around him. In Portland’s last 21 games, the bench is scoring only 24.0 points per game, which ranks 29th out of 30 teams.
76ers vs. Trail Blazers – Picks & Predictions
Tonight, the 76ers will be playing their fifth game in their fifth different city in the last eight days. In three games to begin the road trip, the 76ers have ranked 23rd in the NBA in pace, averaging only 97 possessions per game. Since Lillard returned to the lineup on December 4, Portland has played at a slower than league average pace as well, with less than 100 possessions per contest.
On Thursday, expect both of these teams to lean on each other’s slow playing style, resulting in much more half-court basketball than bettors are used to seeing around the league in the modern NBA. The under is a strong look in this spot, assuming there are no surprises absences before tip-off.
PICK: Under 233.5 (-110, DraftKings)