The Portland Trail Blazers will host the San Antonio Spurs as favorites on the NBA betting odds, but they’ll need to beat them without franchise player Damian Lillard. The six-time All-NBA selection will miss at least 10 days due to abdominal tendinopathy. Portland (11-11) is 5-9 without Lillard since the 2019-20 season.
For San Antonio (6-13), it will be looking for its third straight win and as another underdog. The resurgent Spurs upset both Boston and Washington and will look to improve on its 2-7 road record, including 4-5 against the spread (ATS).
NBA Odds Preview
San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET, NBAtv)
- Point Spread: San Antonio +5
- Moneyline: San Antonio +170, Portland -200
- Total: Over/Under 216½
Spurs: Not Quite Done
We’re guilty of burying San Antonio a wee bit early and the team is looking a lot livelier, especially from an online gambling angle. The Spurs are 10-9 ATS and have covered on four of their last five games, including against the unbeatable Phoenix Suns.
San Antonio is playing team basketball with at least seven players averaging double figures in scoring. Dejounte Murray has been red-hot and is putting up a near triple-double at 22.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and nine assists in his last three games.
Dejounte Murray goes berserk in the final minutes, puts the Celtics away, then tells Boston’s bench Dennis Schröder is too small get him the hell out of the game. pic.twitter.com/u8W4tXqFBO
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 27, 2021
The Spurs are employing some tough defense to secure their wins as they’ve held both Washington and Boston under 100 points. San Antonio is 6-1 when it pulls off this feat and with a young and growing team under the greatest active NBA coach. This team can keep busting chalk.
Trail Blazers: Home Cooking
Portland has been the epitome of home-court advantage this season. The Blazers are just 9-13 ATS overall but are 8-3 ATS at home. Portland’s lone loss at the Moda Center was in its home opener. Since this defeat, the team has won 10 in a row at home and beaten the likes of Phoenix, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Blazers have the best offensive rating at home and are actually eighth in defensive rating. Only the Golden State Warriors have a better net rating and record at home. Players like CJ McCollum get a big boost within the friendly confines of their court.
McCollum is averaging 22.8 points with a 57.9 percent true shooting rate and is +15.9. But on the road, this turns over to 18.5 points, 47.6 percent and -16.8. If this trend holds, Portland should remain a popular NBA free pick every time it plays at home.
Betting Pick
No Lillard? No problem. Portland may not as prolific without its best player, but the team’s inspired play at home should be enough to get them over the Spurs. The eighth-rated defense is the key here as Portland will clamp down on the already-offensively challenged Spurs.
San Antonio may have lock-down defense, but the team is 27th in offense on the road and is shooting just 49.2 percent from an effective field goal standpoint. Bet online for Portland to defend its near-flawless home-court record this Thursday night.
Pick: Portland Trail Blazers -5
Bonus Pick
The Spurs are averaging just 99.9 points on the road and the Blazers are allowing the sixth-fewest at home (103.3 points). San Antonio has failed to hit the century mark fives times and all of them have happened on the road. Portland will shut the Spurs down.
