Clippers-Blazers Betting Preview: Will Portland Rebound After Long Road Trip?

Betting odds: Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers

• Spread: Blazers -4.5
• Over/Under: 226.5
• Time: 9 p.m. ET

The Blazers finished off their extended road trip earlier this week with blowout losses to the Bucks and Warriors. Can they get back on track against a surprising, feisty Clippers team? Our analysts discuss.

Moore: What I’m Watching For Tonight

Portland is coming back down to Earth after a terrific start. T

he Blazers had a Net Rating of +11.5 in October. That’s down to +1.4 in November despite a 7-4 record. Most of that is their beatdown from Milwaukee, but it remains notable.

• I keep wondering if you had Tobias Harris (21-9 on 52-44-80 splits) and you traded for Kemba Walker, how good would your team be? Do you need a third star? The Clippers are good, they’re one of the best teams in the West so far this season, but a guy like Walker takes them to the next level. Meanwhile, Harris is going to make things awfully tough for the Clippers to get him back at a discount this summer.
• The Clippers are 11.9 points per 100 possessions worse with Avery Bradley on the floor. What happened to that guy?
• The Clippers have five guys with a 54%+ effective field goal percentage on spot-up shots this season. They do this despite playing Marcin Gortat, Montrezl Harrell and Boban Marjanovic significant minutes. Never get sucked into believing you can’t create space without a stretch-5. — Matt Moore

Mears: How I’m Betting the Over/Under

The Clippers are 12-6 to the over and the Blazers are 11-8. This line opened at a high 226.5.

Should we keep riding the over?