Portland Trail Blazers vs Indiana Pacers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 19/01/2024, 10:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 19/01/2024 at 14:00 in NBA Prediction

The Portland Trail Blazers will welcome the Indiana Pacers to the Moda Center for an NBA showdown on Friday night. The hosts are 11-29 and 14th in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 24-17 and seventh in the Eastern Conference. 

The Indiana Pacers have maintained a solid performance, securing victories in four of their last six games overall. They continue this positive streak after a hard-fought 126-121 road win against the Kings last night, led by Bennedict Mathurin with 25 points and TJ McConnell contributing 20 points along with 10 assists. Offensively, the Pacers have been a force, averaging an impressive 125.6 points per game, the best in the NBA and 8.9 points more than what Portland typically concedes. However, their defensive efforts have been a challenge, allowing 123.5 points per game, ranking second to last in the league. Notably, the Pacers have been more vulnerable on the road, conceding 5.7 more points compared to their home performances. In terms of injuries, Aaron Nesmith, Tyrese Haliburton, and Obadiah Toppin are doubtful for the upcoming match.

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have faced a challenging stretch, losing seven of their last nine games overall. However, they aim to turn the tide and gain momentum following a crucial 105-103 win over the Nets on Wednesday. Jerami Grant led the charge with 30 points on 14 of 26 shooting, complemented by Anfernee Simons contributing 20 points. Offensively, Portland has struggled, averaging 107.2 points per game, which places them at the bottom of the NBA and is 15.2 points fewer than what Indiana typically allows. Defensively, the Trail Blazers have shown slightly better performance, allowing 116.7 points per game, ranking 19th in the league. While the Trail Blazers secured a rare road win against the Pacers in November, they enter the upcoming match as five-point underdogs. Moses Brown, Shaedon Sharpe, and Robert Williams are listed as doubtful for this game.