The Portland Trail Blazers will be looking to get a rare road win when they hit the road to take on the Indiana Pacers in their inter-conference clash on Thursday night, live from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. With the Pacers looking to step up the pace of their play as we move closer to the end of the regular season and Portland desperate to lock down one of the final spots in the loaded western conference, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NBA Odds for the Blazers vs Pacers.
Blazers vs Pacers 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- TV: TNT, NSNW
- NBA Odds: Indiana -10 / Total: 220
Why Bet On Portland
The Trail Blazers have lost four of five and six of their last nine games overall including a 118-106 loss to Boston on Tuesday.
Portland got a team-high 28 points from shooting guard C.J. McCollum, but Portland has been without All-Star point guard Damian Lillard (groin) for the last five games and they’ll kick off a three-game road trip in this one without their team leader. The Trail Blazers are currently three games behind the Memphis Grizzlies in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
“It’s our reality, so we’ve got to figure out how to get as many wins as possible starting in Indiana and progressing forward,” Portland guard CJ McCollum told reporters.
Portland averages 113.2 points per game (9th) on 45.6 percent shooting (21st) while allowing 115.3 points per game (25th) on 45.2 percent shooting (9th). The Blazers have gone an awful 10-20 on the road this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 113.2
- Field Goal %: 45.6
- Three Point %: 37.15
- Free Throw %: 80.06
- Total Rebounds: 45.63
Defense
- Total Score: 115.34
- Field Goal %: 45.19
- Three Point %: 37.43
- Free Throw %: 76.57
- Total Rebounds: 47.88
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Trends
- Trail Blazers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Trail Blazers are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Trail Blazers are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up loss.
- Trail Blazers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
- Trail Blazers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Trail Blazers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Trail Blazers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Why Bet On Indiana
After dropping their previous six games, the Pacers have won three of their last four and come into this matchup off a 119-80 blowout win over Charlotte on Tuesday one game after getting blown out by Toronto 127-81 on Sunday.
“I didn’t see the Toronto game coming, where we never really established ourselves,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan told reporters. “I really felt that we were going to go up there and win that game. I felt we could beat that team, but they totally smacked us. But I loved our response tonight. We were all about business and we put together a really solid 48-minute game and I thought we were connected out there at both ends of the floor and it looked like they were having some fun but without trying to embarrass anyone.”
All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis posted a team-high 21 points and just missed out on racking up a triple-double with 15 rebounds and nine assists in Tuesday’s win.
“You know, coach just wanted us to come out with a different mentality,” Sabonis told reporters. “After an embarrassing night last game, we just wanted to come in and set the tone early.”
Indiana averages 109.3 points per game (21st) on a stellar 47.5 percent shooting (3rd) while allowing 107.3 points per contest (6th) on 44.7 percent shooting (7th). The Pacers have gone 20-10 at home this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 109.33
- Field Goal %: 47.54
- Three Point %: 36.29
- Free Throw %: 78.7
- Total Rebounds: 42.83
Defense
- Total Score: 107.28
- Field Goal %: 44.65
- Three Point %: 34.8
- Free Throw %: 78.75
- Total Rebounds: 44.97
Indiana Pacers Betting Trends
- Pacers are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Pacers are 16-36 ATS in their last 52 Thursday games.
- Pacers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite.
- Pacers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Blazers vs Pacers Expert Analysis and Prediction
I know the Trail Blazers have underachieved all season long and will be without Damian Lillard in this matchup, but I like Portland to cover the chalk out of sheer desperation and the fact that they still have some talented players that can put the ball in the hole with some kind of regularity, starting with C.J. McCollum first and foremost.
Portland has gone 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against a team with a winning straight up record and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road dates against the Pacers. On the flip side of the coin, the Pacers have their own injury issues and their recent struggles, not to mention a lack of quality talent on the bench. With the Trail Blazers going 12-2 ATS in the last 14 meetings and the Pacers going 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games, I’m taking the big, 10 points and the Blazers to cover while pushing Indy for the outright win!
Pick: Indiana 109 Portland 106
