The San Antonio Spurs (1-1) and Portland Trail Blazers (1-1) will face off in Game 3 in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The game will broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.
The Spurs are 2.5-point favorites over the Blazers on the spread (Spurs -2.5), with the over/under set at 220.5 total points. San Antonio is a -142 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Portland is +120 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Spurs vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks for Friday, April 24.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers Prediction
- Spurs vs Trail Blazers pick: Trail Blazers +2.5 (-110)
My Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game 3 best bet is on Portland to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers Game 3 Odds
| Spurs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 220.5 -108o / -112u | -142 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 220.5 -108o / -112u | +120 |
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Spurs vs Trail Blazers NBA Playoffs Game 3 Preview
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview, Analysis
This is my favorite bet on the board tonight. This isn't just a "vibes" pick; this is about a Portland team that has been incredibly profitable for bettors in this exact situation.
The Blazers are currently sitting at a 62% ATS cover rate as home underdogs. They have been one of my favorite plays all year in this position because the market consistently underrates the energy they bring to the Moda Center when they’re getting points.
I actually think the Blazers should be favored in this game. If Victor Wembanyama is ruled out—and my gut tells me he will be—I’m guessing this line flips completely.
My personal power ratings make the Blazers 3-point favorites without Wemby. So, getting Portland at +2.5? This is a total no-brainer.
We saw it happen in real-time during Game 2: the Blazers' confidence surged the moment Wembanyama went down. They stopped settling for perimeter junk and started relentlessly attacking the bucket.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview, Analysis
Losing your best rim protector is a massive blow for any defense, but it is significantly more damaging when the Spurs are facing a Portland squad that is built to live in the mid-range and at the rim.
When you don't have to worry about a 7-foot-4 wingspan erasing every mistake, it opens up everything for guys like Deni Avdija. He wants to get to the cup, put his shoulder into people, and generate free throws.
Without Wemby, that lane is a runway. Then, you look at the lob threats—you’re throwing Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Avdija at a depleted frontcourt. The Spurs simply don't have the personnel to mitigate those vertical threats if Victor isn't back there playing safety.
Now, people are going to look at the season-long stats and say, "but the Spurs have still been pretty good without him." Look, I get it. San Antonio went 12-6 without Wembanyama in the lineup throughout the regular season. They’ve found ways to stay afloat in the past.
However, this is the playoffs, and the offensive component for the Spurs becomes a massive liability when the game slows down.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers Pick, Betting Analysis
Without Wembanyama to draw double teams and create gravity, the Spurs are really relying on De'Aaron Fox to be their primary lead scorer.
We saw what that looked like in the fourth quarter in Game 2, and it was brutal. He went 1-for-6 in the final frame. Just a horrifying performance when the team needed him most.
I’m just not sure Fox is equipped to step up and carry that kind of offensive burden in the postseason without his safety net.
The Blazers are going to attack the rim, they’re going to dominate the glass with Clingan and Williams, and they’re going to take advantage of a Spurs team that looks lost on offense when Fox is struggling.
So, give me Portland +2.5 in Game 3 tonight—and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Blazers win this game outright to take control of the series.
Pick: Trail Blazers +2.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Trail Blazers Betting Trends
