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Free Pick: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs NBA Lines & Handicapping Preview

NBA Betting: Portland vs San Antonio

Friday NBA betting action sees the Portland Trail Blazers taking on the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, TX. Cappers picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.

Ever since Portland was eliminated by San Antonio in last years playoffs they have been seeking revenge.

NBA Basketball Odds

Portland Trail Blazers (20-6) vs. San Antonio Spurs (17-9)
Friday, Dec. 19
8:00 PM ET
AT&T Center/San Antonio, TX
ESPN
NBA Betting Odds: OFF as of 9:40am ET
NBA O/U Odds: OFF as of 9:40am ET
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The Blazers defeated the Spurs at home earlier this week and will look to do it again, although this time it will be on the road.

Portland

The Trail Blazers are starting a four game road trip over the next five days which will be arguably their toughest stretch of the year. They defeated the Spurs earlier this week and covered the spread. In the process they lost center Robin Lopez who fractured his hand and missed last game against the Bucks which marked his first missed game in three years.

Lopez is expected to miss at least six weeks.

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Thomas Robinson will have to step in and pick up the slack for the injured Lopez. Robinson has not seen a lot of minutes this year, but played well in his first career start scoring 15 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. Last game against San Antonio he played limited minutes, but had seven points and three rebounds.

Point guard Damian Lillard has been shooting the ball well and putting up astonishing numbers. Lillard is averaging 26.3 points in the past four games and shooting over 50% from three.

He put up 29 points in the win against Milwaukee and had 23 points against San Antonio to go along with a career-high 10 rebounds.

Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is having another great year having already registered 14 double-doubles which is tied for fifth in the NBA.

This offseason he added a three point shot to his game and is 14-27 from behind the arc this year.

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To pick up for the loss of Lopez, the Portland front court must crash the boards and stay strong in their post defense.

San Antonio

The Spurs have dropped four of their last six and the starters have been playing way more minutes than Coach Popovich anticipated. This is mostly due to the triple overtime contest the other night against the Grizzles.

They fought back from a 20 point deficit, but fell short at the end when Manu Ginobli air-balled a shot for the win.

In order for the Spurs to be competitive in this game they will need major contributions from the role players. Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard are expected to be out and Tim Duncan will most likely play limited minutes because of the Spurs rugged stretch of games.

Parker played in most of the game against Memphis where he had 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists but was forced to leave with back problems. Danny Green will have to step up for the Spurs and is coming off a season high 25 points in the loss to Memphis.

Coach Popovich has used 14 different starting lineups this year, which is not out of the ordinary for him, and will only allow his stars limited minutes in the regular season to ensure that they will be ready for the post-season.

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Tim Duncan has played over 40 minutes in two games this week as opposed to last year where he played only one game over 40 minutes all year.

NBA Handicapping Trends:

  • Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last five games vs. Western Conference.
  • Spurs are 3-7 ATS in their last ten games vs. teams with a winning S.U. record.
  • Trail Blazers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games vs. teams with a winning S.U. record.
  • Favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
  • Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games vs. teams with a winning % over .600.

NBA Gambling Prediction

Even though the Spurs are playing this game at home they are too drained to compete against a young Trail Blazer team.

With Parker and Leonard out and Duncan only playing limited minutes they won’t be able to get this win. Look for Aldridge to dominate with his lethal jumper and put up numbers without Lopez.

Lillard has been unconscious from three and without Parker guarding him he can get his shot whenever he wants.

Free 4* NBA Betting Pick: POR minus the points

The play on this game is Portland because they are still bitter about last years’ postseason and will be going up against a depleted and tired Spurs lineup.

Trail Blazers 103, Spurs 92

Lillard, Robinson, and Aldridge will have big performances and they will show no remorse for the defending champs.

Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.

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By Kyle R.

Kyle is new to Cappers Picks and is from from Cleveland, OHIO. A Senior at The Ohio State University. Huge Cleveland sports fan (Cavs, Indians, and Browns), and has been been betting since he was legally allowed to do so ... at 18. He's also an avid shoe collector (mostly Jordans and LeBrons), and his dream is to see a championship in Cleveland, doesn’t matter if Browns, Indians, or Cavs. Any or all will do.