La Clippers vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions December 3rd 2024

LA Clippers vs Portland Trail Blazers December 3rd 2024

At 10:30 ET, the Clippers (-377) will host the Trail Blazers (+297) in a Western Conference matchup. The over/under line is 218 points.

Portland (8-13) is 13th in the West, while Los Angeles (13-9) is 6th. The Clippers are favored by 8.5 points.

Trail Blazers vs. Clippers Key Information

Portland’s season record dropped to 8-13 after a 137-131 home loss to the Mavericks on Sunday. The Blazers, who were +5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 268 points exceeded the O/U line of 225 by 43 points.

Portland started strong, leading 29-25 after the 1st quarter, but Dallas took control in the 2nd, outscoring the Blazers 36-29. Portland made an 11-0 run to briefly take the lead, but Dallas regained control and held on for the win, outscoring the Blazers 37-34 in the 4th quarter.

The Trail Blazers shot 58.3% from the field and knocked down 18 threes at a 58.1% clip in their 137-131 loss to the Mavericks. Anfernee Simons led the way with 27 points, hitting 6 threes at 75% efficiency.

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Simons scored 24 of his points in the 3rd quarter, while Deni Avdija added 14 of his 21 points in the 4th. Shaedon Sharpe contributed 8 of his 22 points in the final period.

The Trail Blazers’ defense struggled on Sunday, giving up 137 points to the Mavericks. After a solid 1st quarter where they allowed just 25 points, Portland’s defense faltered, giving up 36 points in the 2nd, 39 in the 3rd, and 37 in the 4th. The Mavericks shot 55% from the field.

Portland also had trouble defending the three-point line, allowing Dallas to hit 18 threes on 50% shooting. The Mavericks went to the free-throw line 29 times, making 23. The Blazers gave up 8 offensive rebounds and finished with 7 steals but didn’t record a block.

The Clippers improved to 13-9 on the season with a 126-122 win over the Nuggets on Sunday. Playing at home, Los Angeles not only picked up the win but also covered the spread as +3 point underdogs. The game’s total of 248 points exceeded the pre-game O/U line of 226 by 22 points.

After a strong start, leading 32-23 after the 1st quarter, the Clippers fell behind when the Nuggets went on an 11-0 run. Denver outscored them 36-27 in the 2nd quarter. Los Angeles responded by edging out the Nuggets 33-31 in the 3rd quarter and 34-32 in the 4th, entering the final period with a narrow 92-90 lead.

James Harden’s 39 points and 11 assists led the Clippers to a 126-122 win over the Nuggets, with Harden hitting 6 threes at 40% efficiency. Norman Powell added 28 points, connecting on 5 threes at 62.5% from deep.

The Clippers made 18 threes as a team, shooting 46.2% from beyond the arc and 47.8% overall. Terance Mann was perfect from three, hitting 2 threes and finishing with 15 points, 8 of which came in the 4th quarter.

Despite giving up 122 points, the Clippers managed to secure the win against the Nuggets. Their best defensive effort came in the 1st quarter, where they allowed just 23 points, but they struggled in the 2nd, giving up 36. The Nuggets scored 31 in the 3rd and 32 in the 4th.

Overall, the Clippers allowed the Nuggets to shoot 58% from the field. However, they limited Denver to 10 made threes on 41% shooting. The Nuggets went 10/19 from the free-throw line. The Clippers also recorded 8 steals and 4 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +8.5, we have the Trail Blazers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 218 and given that our model is projecting 248 points between the teams, we like the over.

Clippers Look to Extend Home Streak, Make NBA Cup Quarters

The Los Angeles Clippers will aim to extend their eight-game home winning streak and keep their NBA Cup hopes alive when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in Inglewood, Calif.

High Stakes in Group Play Finale

Both teams face a win-or-go-home scenario in their final NBA Cup group play matchup. While neither the Clippers nor the Trail Blazers is eliminated yet, the winner will still need help from other results to secure a wild-card spot in the knockout round.

Clippers Riding Home Momentum

The Clippers have turned their new $2 billion arena into a fortress after a rocky start. Following four consecutive home losses to open the season, Los Angeles has reeled off eight straight wins at home. Their most recent victory, a 126-122 thriller over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, featured a vintage performance from James Harden.

Harden scored 39 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds. He also became just the second player in NBA history to reach 3,000 career 3-pointers, hitting 6 of 15 from deep in the game.

“None of those accomplishments we take for granted,” Harden said. “The amount of work that I’ll put in, countless days and nights … the results happen. (I’m) just thankful.”

Harden’s shooting has improved of late, hitting 44.7 percent from the floor over his past four games compared to 38.5 percent on the season.

The Clippers also welcomed back Norman Powell on Sunday after a six-game absence due to a hamstring injury. Powell scored 28 points, lifting his season average to a team-leading 23.6 points per game. Center Ivica Zubac continues to be a force on the boards, averaging 12.4 rebounds.

Trail Blazers Seeking Road Breakthrough

Portland enters Tuesday’s game looking to snap a string of road struggles. The Trail Blazers have lost six of their past seven road games since Nov. 7 and are coming off a 137-131 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Against Dallas, Portland’s defense faltered, allowing at least 36 points in each of the last three quarters. The Blazers shot an impressive 58.1 percent from 3-point range (18 of 31) but were undone by 21 turnovers, leading to 33 points for the Mavericks.

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Anfernee Simons led Portland with 27 points, including a dazzling third quarter in which he scored 24 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Shaedon Sharpe added 22 points, and Deandre Ayton pulled down a team-best 10.3 rebounds.

“We started a little sloppy in the beginning,” Simons said. “But we were still in the game at halftime, withstood everything, and gave us a chance to win the game. That’s all you could ask for.”

Key Players to Watch

• Clippers: James Harden’s recent surge has been instrumental, while Norman Powell’s return adds scoring punch. Ivica Zubac’s rebounding dominance could play a crucial role.
• Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons is heating up, and Shaedon Sharpe has been a steady contributor. Deandre Ayton’s presence in the paint will be critical against Zubac and the Clippers’ interior game.

Game Outlook

The Clippers have been dominant at home, fueled by their star power and deep rotation. Portland, meanwhile, has struggled on the road but possesses the offensive firepower to challenge Los Angeles. With both teams fighting for their NBA Cup lives, expect a high-energy showdown with playoff-like intensity.