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Trail Blazers vs. Lakers Game 1 Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read

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Tuesday, August 18, 2020


The final contest on the second day of NBA playoff action delivers the West's 1-8 matchup at AdventHealth Arena.

The No. 1-seeded Los Angeles Lakers meet the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series.

Betting Resources

Betting Odds - Trail Blazers vs. Lakers

The L.A. Lakers opened as a six-point favorite at DraftKings but were quickly bet to 5.5, which is where the line has remained as of Tuesday mornning.

The total opened at 229 at DraftKings, dipped to 228.5 and has since hovered in the 229.5 range since. Be sure to follow all the line movements.

Point-Spread Odds

  • Lakers -5.5
  • Trail Blazers +5.5

Money-Line Odds

  • Lakers -250 (Bet $100 to win $40)
  • Blazers +205 (Bet $100 to win $205)

Total Odds

  • Over 229.5
  • Under 229.5

Series Odds

  • Lakers -455
  • Blazers +340

Inside the Betting Stats

(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS)

Overall

  • Portland: 35-39 SU, 32-40-3 ATS
  • Los Angeles: 52-19 SU, 36-34-1 ATS

Bubble

  • Portland: 7-2 SU, 5-3-1 ATS
  • Los Angeles: 3-5 SU, 1-7 ATS
The Lakers have been one of the favorites to claim this season's NBA title all season. They were favored all but seven times in their games this season and were last an underdog against the Rockets on Aug. 6. They failed to cover in seven of eight seeding contests.

Thanks to the play-in game against Memphis, Portland tied Dallas in playing the most games (75) of any team this season. They entered the bubble as just one of the teams in the mix chasing the Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed and finished 7-2.

Over-Under Total Notes

Totals Report

Overall

  • Portland: 45-30 O/U
  • Los Angeles: 34-37 O/U

Bubble

  • Portland: 8-1 O/U
  • Los Angeles: 4-4 O/U
The Blazers gave up 121 or more points in six of their eight seeding games, which includes surrendering 135 points against Memphis in their opener.The high side connected in all but one of the Blazers games.

The Lakers lost to the Thunder, Rockets, Lakers and Kings over their last five games despite having LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the mix for most of those contests.

Blazers vs. Lakers Head-to-Head

2019-20 Regular Season

Jan. 31, 2020: Portland (+13) 127 at L.A. Lakers 119, Over 232.5

Dec. 28, 2019: L.A. Lakers (-5) 128 at Portland 120, Over 223

Dec. 6, 2019: L.A. Lakers (-5) 136 at Portland 113, Over 225

Damian Lillard led Portland to an upset as a 13-point underdog in the first game at Staples Center following the death of Kobe Bryant. Mourners were lined up outside paying their respects as Lillard did so inside the building, honoring one of his idols by knocking down seven 3-pointers in coming up with 48 points.

Lillard scored 29 and 31 points in his team's two December losses. Kyle Kuzma led L.A. with 24 points in its win back in late December, while LeBron James added 21 points and 16 assists. Anthony Davis led the way with 39 points while James added 31 in the first matchup. Portland center Jusuf Nurkic didn't play in any of the contests.

Key Injuries

Portland

  • Zach Collins: Ankle – Out

L.A. Lakers

  • LeBron James: Groin - Probable
  • Anthony Davis: Knee - Probable
  • Avery Bradley: Personal - Out
  • Rajon Rondo: Hand - Out
Blazers power forward Zach Collins is sidelined for this one, which means the Blazers will utilize younger pieces like Wenyen Gabriel in this contest.

James and Davis were listed on the injury report with nagging ailments but are otherwise fine. Bradley opted not to play in the bubble, while Rondo is still recovering from surgery and isn't expected to play in the series.

Game 1 Best Bet Pick

The Blazers can't be counted on to get stops considering they couldn't keep Memphis out of the paint and will now be tasked with keeping James from infiltrating. The pick-and-roll combo he forms with Davis is the game's most lethal. Lillard is shooting it at a high percentage and pulling up early in the shot clock, and the Lakers simply haven't been the same defensively without Bradley. Expect to see a high-scoring Game 1. Ride OVER 229.5.

Prediction: Lakers 131, Trail Blazers 122


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