Blazers-Hornets Matchup Predictions and Odds

The Portland Trail Blazers will host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday in a battle of lottery-bound teams. 

Both teams are going through a phase of turmoil, injuries, and overall disappointment.

Key Matchup Statistics

Though they are far from being a playoff team, new Blazers’ youngsters have managed to flash moments of brilliance. Where will their next source of inspiration come from?

The unpredictability of NBA odds this season means that no one really understands the Blazers’ trajectory.

Above all, their defense is still a thorn in the neck. They rank third in fast-break points allowed per game (17.4) and possess the seventh-worst defensive rating (DRTG) of 115.4.

Portland also surrenders the fifth-most points off turnovers, with a whopping 19.7 per contest.

Conversely, Charlotte ranks in the top half in DRTG at 113.3 and allows fewer fast-break points per game (15.8).

Home-court advantage will surely favor the Blazers, as they are 15-14 at home, while the Hornets are a pitiful 5-20 on the road.

In their last matchup on Jan. 24, the Blazers beat the Hornets 102-97 on the road Anfernee Simons dropped 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting to propel the Blazers to victory. Jerami Grant added 22, including four three-pointers.

It wasn’t a particularly clean game for either side, as they both turned the ball over 16 times and shot under 30% from three-point range.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=iFgzybIobY4%3Fsi%3DglhKauPNF5unzcbM

Betting Odds

Tonight’s over/under is set at 222. If you bet based on their last game, the under would be your choice. However, given teams are relatively fresh from the All-Star Break —and the Blazers average 112.6 points per game when playing at home by themselves — the over is the better choice. The Blazers also come in as 4.5-point favorites.

Final Prediction

Anything can of course happen, but it is reasonable to expect the Blazers to win this one handily. Betting the over and Blazers -4.5 are both smart money-making options.