The Los Angeles Clippers (8-21) and Portland Trail Blazers (12-18) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Moda Center in Portland, Ore. The game will broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.
The Clippers are 1.5-point favorites over the Blazers on the spread (Clippers -1.5), with the over/under set at 227 total points. Los Angeles is a -120 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Portland is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Clippers vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks for Friday, December 26.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers Prediction, Picks
- Clippers vs Trail Blazers pick: Brook Lopez Under 9.5 Points (-115)
My Clippers vs Trail Blazers best bet is on Brook Lopez to stay under 9.5 points, with the best price currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers Odds
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 227 -110o / -110u | -120 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 227 -110o / -110u | +100 |
Clippers vs Trail Blazers NBA Preview
Brook Lopez is stepping into more playing time with Ivica Zubac out for the Clippers, but playing with the starters has knocked down his usage rate.
He’s posted a 14.4% mark over the past two games, which includes one start and one game with extended run after Zubac went down early. Prior to this stretch, he was at 19.4%.
Lopez is mostly operating in a spot-up, three-point shooting role. He happened to hit 3-of-6 from deep against the Lakers, but followed that up by going just 1-for-4 from beyond the arc last time out, finishing with five points.
The Trail Blazers have limited opponents to the sixth-fewest made three-pointers on the fifth-fewest attempts, which matters given how dependent Lopez has become on perimeter looks.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers Prediction, Betting Analysis
Lopez played 27 minutes against Houston on Tuesday.
The Rockets are the biggest team in the league, making it an ideal scenario for extended, traditional center minutes.
Portland does have some size, but I’d still expect the Clippers to lean into small-ball lineups roughly half the time, which caps Lopez’s scoring upside even if his minutes remain stable.
With his reduced usage and a role that relies heavily on spot-up shooting, this sets up as a difficult path to double-digit points.
Pick: Brook Lopez Under 9.5 Points (-115)
Spread
I'm not betting either side of the spread in this game.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline as well.
Over/Under
My Trail Blazers vs Clippers betting prediction is on Brook Lopez under 9.5 points.
