The Los Angeles Clippers got a gift from some scheduling god last night. The Nets were on the second night of a back-to-back and the fourth game of a six-game road trip, knowing they would have tonight off in Los Angeles. And Brooklyn predictably did not show up last night as a result. To say Los Angeles played last night would be an aggressive usage of the word “played,” enjoying a 126-67 win.
So while the Portland Blazers have a rest advantage tonight, it is hardly one to put much stock in. My Clippers vs. Blazers predictions and NBA picks expect Los Angeles to continue to roll when tip comes at 10 ET on Thursday, January 16.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers prediction
My best bet
Clippers -6.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
Look at last night’s Los Angeles Clippers score one more time, enjoy that laugh. Los Angeles led 58-35 at halftime. The Nets’ highest-scoring quarter was the first, notching 21 points. In fact, the score was tied after 12 minutes. The final three quarters saw a casual 105-46 discrepancy.
Now ignore that in all regards aside from the fact that no Clippers’ starter played even 24 minutes. Amir Coffey came off the bench for 31:27, because that much of a joke can turn into a good cardio workout.
Los Angeles was a lofty 15.5-point favorite against Brooklyn, compared to Portland being a 3.5-point favorite against Brooklyn two nights ago.
Ascribe some of that 12-point gap in those two spreads to the Nets being on the second night of a back-to-back. Let’s call that two points.
Ascribe some of it to Kawhi Leonard being available for up to 24 minutes, which he is not tonight. Let’s call that 1.5 points, mostly because of the minute restriction.
Now that 12-point gap between the Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers has been narrowed to 8.5 points. Homecourt advantage should move it another 2 or 2.5 points, and suddenly tonight’s spread favoring Los Angeles by 6.5 makes sense. Add in however much validity you want to give this back-to-back spot, and perhaps -6.5 is too hefty.
Why back it then?
Because Portland needs to be dismissed a bit more often. The Blazers lost by 18 to the Nets, despite being two-bucket favorites. And that was on a night when Portland shot 45% from deep. Do not expect Scoot Henderson to go 8-of-10 from long-range again anytime soon.
Tonight’s spread is set properly, but doubts in the Blazers should be more rampant.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Clippers -6.5
Anfernee Simons Under 3.5 threes
Blazers Team Total Under 107.5
In a surprisingly decent season, the Clippers’ best asset has been their perimeter defense. Los Angeles has held opponents to 33.9% shooting from deep in the last month, the No. 5 rate in the NBA. Given last night’s laughs, the Clippers’ legs should be live enough to keep up that defense tonight. It will impact Anfernee Simons more than most Blazers, shooting well enough of late to warrant a defensive focus.
In the last month, Los Angeles has enjoyed the NBA’s No. 2 defensive rating, nearly as far from No. 3 as the top-rated Thunder are from the Clippers at No. 2. That creates further faith in Los Angeles covering this three-bucket spread, as well as holding down Portland’s middling offense tonight.
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Clippers vs Trail Blazers odds
Clippers vs Trail Blazers live odds
Clippers vs Trail Blazers opening odds
- Spread: Los Angeles -6 | Portland +6
- Moneyline: Los Angeles -240 | Portland +195
- Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222
Odds courtesy of bet365
Clippers vs Trail Blazers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Clippers were six-point favorites when this line opened on Wednesday evening, long before they commenced their rout of Brooklyn. That rout did not jump the spread up much, reaching -6.5 by sunrise and then spending a brief part of Thursday morning at -7.
- Returning to -6.5 argues this spread hardly moved after Los Angeles made its back-to-back so much less stressful.
- The total, however, fell after that Wednesday rout. It opened at 222 and valleyed at 219 on Thursday morning, settling at 220.5 in the afternoon. That drop emphasizes that the Clippers’ greatest strength is their defense, and fresher legs than expected tonight should help that strength.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers trend
The Clippers have played seven back-to-backs so far this season. On the second night of those, five of seven Unders have cashed. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Clippers vs Trail Blazers
| Location: | Moda Center, Portland, Oregon |
| Date: | Thursday, 1-16-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FDSN SC, KUNP |
Clippers vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
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