The Phoenix Suns (8-6) and Portland Trail Blazers (6-7) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 11:00 p.m. EST from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The game will broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
The Blazers are 2.5-point favorites over the Suns on the spread (Trail Blazers -2.5), with the over/under set at 236.5 total points. Portland is a -142 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Phoenix is +120 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Suns vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, November 18.
My Suns vs Trail Blazers Prediction
- Suns vs Trail Blazers pick: Suns +2.5 (-110)
My Trail Blazers vs Suns best bet is on Phoenix to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Suns vs Trail Blazers Odds
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 236.5 -110o / -110u | +120 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 236.5 -110o / -110u | -142 |
Suns vs Trail Blazers NBA Preview
In a matchup of surging teams, the Suns fell 124-122 to the Hawks as they let a 22-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter.
Still, they have won seven of their last nine games since a 1-4 start. They have been one of the early surprises in the West after an offseason of retooling.
Phoenix enters tonight's game ninth in offensive rating and 14th in defensive rating.
As you would expect, Devin Booker is leading the way once again. The four-time All-Star is averaging 28.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and seven assists per game. Many were interested in his fit in the backcourt with Jalen Green, but they have played just two games together.
However, the "other" piece in the Kevin Durant trade has picked up the slack.
Through his first eight games, Dillon Brooks is averaging 22 points and shooting 45.9% from the field, which would both be career-highs. He has scored 30 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers fell in overtime to the Mavericks 138-133 on Sunday night. They are returning home after a 1-4 road trip and enter tonight's game having lost five of their last seven games.
They will be a bit shorthanded in the backcourt after Jrue Holiday did not play in Sunday's game. He is listed as doubtful tonight with a calf strain. Scoot Henderson has yet to play this season and Damian Lillard is out for the season obviously.
I would expect to see Deni Avdija facilitating a bit more tonight after he had seven assists on Sunday to go along with 29 points and six rebounds.
His breakout season has continued as he is averaging 26 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season.
Shaedon Sharpe is not too far behind him, averaging 22.1 points in 28.5 minutes per game.
Expect to see both teams spreading the floor and firing away from deep tonight.
The Trail Blazers are fifth in 3-point attempts per game while the Suns are eighth.
Suns vs Trail Blazers Prediction, Betting Analysis
Both of these teams have proven to be tough outs this season and it is very easy to imagine this being a Play-In Tournament matchup in April.
As for tonight's game, I have to give the edge to the Suns. Phoenix is 11th in the league with +4.1 net rating this season while Portland is 18th with an even mark.
However, with such a narrow spread, a close game may also favor the Suns. In clutch time, Phoenix has a -0.6 net rating.
That may not sound like a selling point, but it is much better than Portland's -8.7 net rating.
Additionally, Portland playing without a true point guard could come to bite them down the stretch as it did on Sunday.
As a result, I'll be taking the +2.5 with the Suns.
As for tonight's same-game parlay, I am going with several high hit rates.
Avdija has scored 22 points in nine of his last 10 games and at least four assists in eight of them.
As a result, he has cleared 30+ PA in six of his last seven games.
Sharpe and Brooks have both scored 15 points in every game this season.
When you bump them up to 18 points, Sharpe has cleared in each of his last nine games while Brooks is at six of eight games on the year.
A few of Brooks' buckets may be assisted by Booker, who has had at least six assists in 10 of 14 games this.
Pick: Suns +2.5 (-110)
Suns vs Trail Blazers Parlay Picks
- Deni Avdija 30+ Points + Assists
- Dillon Brooks 18+ Points
- Shaedon Sharpe 18+ Points
- Devin Booker 6+ Assists
Parlay Odds: +254, DraftKings
