Free NBA Hoops Pick: Hornets vs Blazers Odds
Weekly NBA betting sees the Charlotte Hornets taking on the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Jan. 27 at the Moda Centers in Portland, Ore. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE NBA hoops predictions.
Charlotte Hornets 22-24 vs. Portland Trail Blazers 21-26
Date: Friday, Jan. 29
Time: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: Moda Center – Portland, Ore.
NBA Moneyline Odds: OFF
NBA Betting Odds: Blazers -6.5
NBA Betting Total: 206.5
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Portland Trail Blazers fans have had this game circled on their calendar since the time the NBA released its 2015-16 schedule. No, not because of any long-lasting rivalry or “must win” time of the year. This one has to do with nostalgia.
This is the game where Nicolas Batum makes his return to Rip City, playing in the Moda Center for the first time as an opponent.
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Although it’s a minor subplot to those outside of the Rose City, the fans should show up for this one, which always bodes well for a young home team. Batum has been struggling with a toe injury, but he made his return to the starting lineup on Wednesday.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets began the year looking like a potential dark horse to challenge the top-tier teams out East, but have since come back down to earth. That said, they’ve won four of their last five games despite coming off an ugly loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
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Against Portland, the strategy is what it is for all teams facing the Blazers: contain the backcourt. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have become one of the top point guard-shooting guard combos in the league, and forcing one of them into bad shots has to be the strategy.
Expect Batum to take on some of the defensive responsibilities when it comes to Lillard, if for no other reason than to help Kemba Walker conserve energy on the more glamorous end of the court.
The 25-year-old looks like an All-Star this season, and the porous Blazers defense should give him plenty of opportunities to continue rolling into All-Star Weekend scorching hot.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are in a spot where every win means a spot closer to the playoffs, but it also means a spot away from the lottery. Luckily for fans in favor of the former, this team and its management refuses to discuss that debate, as developing young players continues to be the focus.
Having won three of its last four games, Portland sits in the No. 8 spot out West approximately 24 hours before this one tips off.
As inspiring as that is for a group that lost four-fifths of its starting lineup this past summer, it’s more of an indictment on the state of second- and third-tier teams in the conference and only a slight testament to its ability to play surprisingly well.
So far this season, the Blazers are 23rd in terms of defensive efficiency and ninth in offensive efficiency.
Charlotte is middle of the pack in both categories, which means the Blazers will have to take their performance on one end or the other to another level if they hope to counter the balanced attack for the Hornets on Friday.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Hornets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Trail Blazers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Southeast.
- Favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
- Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hornets ATS
The Trail Blazers have looked good their last two games, which unfortunately for fans in Rip City means they’re due for a sloppy showing from its young, inexperienced group.
Combine that with the fact that nobody on this team will have an answer for Walker, and you end up with a convincing win for the road team.
NBA Free Score Prediction: Charlotte 103 – Portland 93
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