Portland Trail Blazers (12-30) vs. San Antonio Spurs (8-35)
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs 1/26/24 – In a captivating basketball matchup preview, the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs are set to face off on Friday. With the Trail Blazers at 12-30 and the Spurs trailing at 8-35, both teams are looking to improve their standings in this competitive clash. The game, promising an exciting showdown, will take place at 9:30 PM ET at the Frost Bank Center, airing on NBAt. Fans can expect a spirited contest as both teams strive to climb up the ranks in the NBA ladder.
The Trail Blazers, despite having an unimpressive win-loss record, have shown remarkable tenacity recently. Averaging 107.5 points per game on offense alone consists of calculated field goals and strategic 3-point attempts. With an average of 39.2 field goals made per game and 43.4% shooting efficiency, they display a balanced attack. Their 3-point game, while modest with only 35.3% success rate, adds another important dimension to their offense. In free throw shooting percentage they excel by reaching 78.5% rate. On defense they average 41.4 rebounds per game which are supplemented with 8 steals and 4.7 blocks to effectively combat opposing offenses while their 14.1 turnovers per game may need further attention.
On the contrary, San Antonio Spurs have shown some impressive stats despite their dismal record. They outshone Portland Trail Blazers in scoring by averaging 112.8 points per game at 46% field goal rate, which allowed for 42.1 average field goals made per game and 34.5% success rate of 3-point shot attempts per game (with 37 attempts averaged per game at 37 attempts and 34 attempts made total per game). They also demonstrated strength rebounding at an average 43 rebounds per game and were slightly more disciplined with 18.8 fouls per game – yet struggled with turnovers at 14.1 average per game like Portland Trail Blazers had.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs 1/26/24 Game Info
| When: | Friday, January 26, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Frost Bank Center |
| TV: | NBAt |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Anfernee Simons (SG) vs. Victor Wembanyama (C)
Anfernee Simons has stepped up as Portland’s primary offensive option in just his fifth NBA season. His scoring average is up over six points from last year while shooting career bests from the field (43.4%) and beyond the arc (35.3%). Quick handles allow Simons to create space for his smooth jumper. He’ll look to exploit a weak San Antonio defense allowing the most opponent points in the league. However, his subpar playmaking (4.8 apg) and smaller stature could make scoring tough against the 7’4″ Wembanyama down low.
Victor Wembanyama has lived up to expectations so far in his rookie campaign. His rare blend of size, length, agility and developing skills has wowed the league all season. Wembanyama leads all rookies in scoring, rebounds and blocks while anchoring San Antonio’s defense. His wingspan helps him affect shots at the rim and out on the perimeter. While turnovers (3.2 per game) remain an issue, Wembanyama’s two-way dominance makes him a potentially franchise-changing talent if the Spurs can build around him properly. His size advantage against the 6’3″ Simons will be key.
This matchup features two talented scorers at different stages of their careers. While Simons has shown improvement as a lead option, this is a challenging matchup against an otherworldly physical specimen in Wembanyama. The Spurs phenom’s defensive presence at the rim could force Simons into a lot of tough outside shots. However, Wembanyama is still raw in many areas including decision making and perimeter defense – weaknesses Portland could look to exploit.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds for this game are currently unavailable, but the matchup suggests a closely contested game. Given both teams’ performance trends and key player stats, bettors should closely monitor the odds once they are released for potential value bets.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Trends
The Trail Blazers have gone 2-3 in their last 5 games straight up. They are 3-2 against the spread in their previous 5 matchups. Over the full season, Portland is 10-13 ATS on the road. Meanwhile, the totals have gone OVER in just 2 of the Trail Blazers’ last 5 contests. However, scoring has trended higher in their recent road games, going OVER in 8 of their last 19 away matchups.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends
The Spurs have posted a disappointing 1-4 straight up record over their last 5 games. However, they have fared slightly better ATS by covering in 3 of those outings. For the full campaign, San Antonio is an even 12-12 ATS at home. In contrast to Portland, high scoring games have been more common for the Spurs lately. The totals have finished OVER in 3 of their previous 5 matchups. Given their defensive struggles, that scoring tendency is further evidenced by an OVER record of 14-5 across their last 19 home tilts
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs 1/26/24 Betting Picks
Based on the analysis and trends, this game presents an intriguing opportunity for bettors. Both teams have shown tendencies towards high-scoring games, and their similar records against the spread suggest a close contest.
Considering the offensive capabilities of both teams and their defensive shortcomings, the game might tilt towards a higher total score. The key player matchup, especially how Simons navigates against Wembanyama’s defense, could be pivotal. For those looking for premium predictions, the smart money might be on a close game with a slightly higher total score.
Free Pick and Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers 110, San Antonio Spurs 105.