Trail Blazers vs Lakers Free NBA Basketball Predictions

Coming off yet another lackluster performance on the road, the (18-13) Los Angeles Lakers [-4] return home to host an old rival in the (17-15) Portland Trail Blazers [+4]. Not only have the Lakers been nearly unbeatable at home this season, but they should also feel good about the fact that they have won 16 of their last 19 meetings with the Blazers in Tinseltown.

The Staples Center, in downtown LA will be the site for this intraconference battle, which tips-off at 10:30 PM ET on TNT. According to NBA basketball predictions experts, the Trail Blazers and Lakers are projected to score a combined OVER/UNDER total of 180½ points.

Portland comes in with a 5-10 record on the road and have dropped 6 of its last 10 games overall.  After starting the season 5-1, the Blazers have gone 12-14 and currently trail the division-leading Oklahoma City Thunder by 7½ games in the Northwest.

Despite their most recent woes, Portland is coming off its most dominant victory of the season. Led by Nicolas Batum’s 22 points and 8 rebounds, the Blazers cruised to a 20-point victory over Atlanta, 97-77. After closing out the second quarter on a 19-9 run, the Hawks never got closer than 12 points the rest of the game.

“We came out from the start and put pressure on them,” said David Aldridge. “If you give anybody life, they can find it. But we kept working and ended up winning the game.”

For the hosting Lakers, trouble in paradise continues. This time much of the talk around the town and in the locker room pertains to Pau Gasol’s future as a Laker. As a result, Gasol is averaging a career low 16.6 points, which has Kobe Bryant standing up for his teammate and airing out his frustrations through the media.

“I wish management would come out and either trade him or not trade him,” he said. “It’s tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I’d rather them not trade him at all. If they’re going to do something, I wish they would just … do it. If they’re not going to do it, come out and say you’re not going to do it.”

As bas as the Lakers have been on the road this year, they have been just as good at home. With a 13-2 record at Staples, the Lakers should win this game and cover the spread. Take Los Angeles over Portland at -4 tonight.

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