NBA Picks: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Monday, 3/3/14, 10:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Portland -12.5
Current Betting Line: Portland -12.5
Opening Total: 220
Current Total: 220
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Portland Trail Blazers have all five probable starters averaging in double figures

Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak last time out, as it picked up a 126-122 victory over the Sacramento Kings as 2.5-point home favorites last Friday, while going OVER the betting total for a fourth consecutive contest. The Lakers are 10-21 SU on the road this season, including a 3-14 mark versus Western Conference opponents, which is important to consider when making your NBA betting picks. Los Angeles is 1-4 SU and 1-3-1 ATS as road underdogs of 12.5 or more points.

The Lakers have knocked down 34-of-55 shots from beyond the arc over their last two games, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. Los Angeles has made 15 or more three-pointers in a game on four occasions, with two of those coming in the last two contests. Offensively, the team has also cracked the century mark in scoring in six of its last seven contests, while it has averaged 103.6 points per game since the calendar turned to 2014.

Portland has won five games in a row, including a 102-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets as 12-point home favorites last Saturday, while going UNDER the betting total for a fifth consecutive contest. The Trail Blazers have all five probable starters averaging double figures, with power forward LaMarcus Aldridge leading the way at 23.8 points a contest. Since the All-Star break, point guard Damian Lillard has averaged 25.5 points on 50.5 percent shooting. Portland is 14-19-1 ATS in March since the 2011-12 campaign.

The Trail Blazers have the best win percentage and the most wins when shooting 45 percent or less from the floor. Portland has had the same starting lineup through the team’s first 53 games this season—tied for the sixth longest streak in a season in NBA history and tied for the third longest streak to begin a season.