The Portland Trail Blazers are playing some solid basketball, taking six of their last seven games to set up a very tantalizing game against the Phoenix Suns who come in on the second night of a back-to-back.
Portland has taken it to some good defenses of late, and our Suns vs. Trail Blazers predictions will explain why this is sustainable and how this frontcourt could lift it to another huge upset.
Let’s dig into some NBA player props and hand out some NBA picks on Saturday, February 1.
Suns vs Trail Blazers prediction
My best bet
Trail Blazers +3.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Portland Trail Blazers – yes, the Trail Blazers – are winning by nearly eight points per 100 possessions over the last two weeks. The run has been fueled by defense, something which has eluded this team for quite some time, and over that period in time it’s allowed the third-fewest points per 100 in the league.
The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, continue to tread water around the middle of the league on both sides of the ball, and that’s come in spite of some more hot shooting from the mid-range. As it turns out, this isn’t an efficient way to score the ball.
Portland has limited looks from this area quite a bit over the course of those last two weeks in spite of some struggles defending these jumpers, but the biggest story has been this team’s top-five showing both at the rim and around the arc.
The Suns’ rather middling offense has been given a bump by a top-10 showing from 3-point distance in the last two weeks as they continue to avoid the rim and shoot with a rather high frequency out there. That should be a hard ask against the Trail Blazers right now with how they’re shutting down shots from deep – something that’s held them back for most of the season.
I’m a big believer in this defense, and now that Portland’s starting frontcourt is healthy with Deandre Ayton and Donovan Clingan splitting time at center, I do believe it can out-muscle a Suns team which just acquired Nick Richards in an attempt to shore up its issues down low.
Phoenix continues to struggle when defending shots at the rim, with its 3-point defense taking a hit lately to boot, and I do think this frontcourt will get a lot of work done to drive the ship against a tired Suns team playing its second game in as many days.
With some improved outside shooting and rebounding putting the icing on the cake, the Trail Blazers should be cleared for liftoff.
Suns vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Trail Blazers +3.5
Deandre Ayton Over 14.5 Points
Deni Avdija Over 16.5 Points
Phoenix hasn’t given up a ton of looks at the rim, but it’s allowed the largest percentage of shots to come from the short mid-range in the NBA over the last 14 days. With poor numbers against both, I think Deandre Ayton should be in for another big night.
The big man has gone over 21 points in each of his last three games, and while he struggled against Phoenix the only time he participated in this season series back in November, he’s been a different man lately.
This is a quite generous line given his recent run of form, where he’s taken a whopping 14.6 shots per game over his last five with a 60.3% hit rate, and I have no hesitation taking him to do so again.
I’m also looking to Deni Avdija for another big night after he was limited to 25 minutes last time out in a near 30-point win. Prior to that, he’d scored over 25 per game in his last three, and given Phoenix’s aforementioned issues defending the rim and its dip around the arc, the two-level scorer should be at it again.
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Suns vs Trail Blazers odds
Suns vs Trail Blazers live odds
Suns vs Trail Blazers opening odds
- Spread: Phoenix -4 (-105) | Portland +4 (-115)
- Moneyline: Phoenix -170 | Portland +145
- Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Suns vs Trail Blazers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Trail Blazers received an initial push to 2.5-point underdogs, only to watch the line snap back in the other direction on Saturday and hit four points.
- The Suns make up 69% of the spread tickets and but a lower 59% of the handle.
- The total steadily climbed as high as 229 overnight, but has since been sent in the other direction all day Saturday to settle down lower than the opening number as of this writing.
- A firm 66% of the bets and 73% of the total handle is on the Over.
Suns vs Trail Blazers trend
The Phoenix Suns have hit the 1H Game Total Over in 25 of their last 37 games (+11.05 Units / 26% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Suns vs Trail Blazers
| Location | Moda Center, Portland, OR |
| Date | Saturday, 2-1-2025 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | KTVK, KUNP |
Suns vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
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