Warning: Undefined array key "post_type_share_twitter_account" in /var/www/vhosts/casinonewsblogger.com/public_html/wp-content/themes/cryptocurrency/vslmd/share/share.php on line 24
- San Antonio is a 10.5-point favorite in Game 1 of their opening round series against Portland
- The Trail Blazers are in the postseason for the first time since 2021
- See below for my Trail Blazers vs Spurs pick, the latest odds, and how to watch Game 1
It’s probably not the ideal time for the Portland Trail Blazers (42-40, 18-23 away) to get their first look this season at Victor Wembanyama when they face the San Antonio Spurs (62-20, 32-8 home) in Game 1 of their best-of-7 series starting Sunday.
Wemby missed all three regular season matchups due to injury, with San Antonio taking two of the three matchups.
The Frenchman is in the mix on the NBA MVP odds, and his play, coupled with the supporting cast build around him, are serious contenders in the NBA Championship odds.
No surprise, then, that the Spurs are big favorites to take the opener in the NBA odds.
Is Portland able to react to a force they’ve yet to see in real time his year? Read below as I break down this matchup and share my best bet.
Trail Blazers vs Spurs Odds
Odds as of April 19. The interactive table above will automatically update as the NBA odds move over the course of the day.
San Antonio is a massive 10.5-point favorite at FanDuel, and a virtually unbettable -535 on the moneyline over at DraftKings.
Taking Portland for the outright upset pays out at +430 at FanDuel, and the Trail Blazers are getting an extra half-point on the spread at bet365.
Over bettors should stay at bet365 as the total is set at 221.5 points, while Under bettors should visit DraftKings, where the total is bumped up by a full point.
Trail Blazers vs Spurs Prediction
- Pick: Trail Blazers +11 (-110 at bet365)
I don’t think the Blazers are going to win the series, and I don’t even think that they’ll win this game, but I don’t believe the Spurs are instant juggernauts.
Yes, they finished the year in a flurry, with the best record post all-star break at 23-4, becoming just the fourth team in NBA history to win 60 games in a season a year after they won less than 35.
There are vets there in DeAaron Fox and Harrison Barnes, but we’re going to be watching Wemby, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper step into an arena they’ve never yet experienced.
A lot of it came easy-ish. On top of Wemby emerging as one of the best players on the planet, no less than seven Spurs averaged double-digits in scoring, en route to the third-most potent offense, averaging 119.8 points per game.
Portland would be way friskier if Dame Lillard wasn’t on the shelf recovering from his Achilles injury, but they also aren’t the easiest team to compete against.
Since the all-star break, Portland is seventh in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 110.3 points per game, and with legit beef in their frontcourt, they led the league with nearly seven blocks per contest.
They also have a legit scoring threat in Deni Avdija, who is coming off a monster 41-point effort in Portland’s win over Phoenix to clinch the seventh seed.
The pieces are in place for Portland to compete, and if they are going to shock the Spurs, Game 1 is about the best chance they get as San Antonio gets its playoff feet wet.
In the end, the Blazers led the league in turnovers, and are a little too reliant on the 3-ball — third in attempts, but 28th at a 34.3% clip — to close this one out. But they should do enough to stay in range.
Trail Blazers vs Spurs Player-Prop Best Bets
Pick 1: Victor Wembanyama OVER 3.5 Blocks (-105 at bet365)
Wemby led the league in blocks this year at 3.1 per contest, and this is a wager on Portland getting its first experience attacking the paint with the Spurs’ defensive anchor the first time this season.
In his final nine games of the season, Wembanyama topped this block line four times, but missed the Over by a single block on three other occasions. He should be in range again Sunday.
Pick 2: Jrue Holiday OVER 15.5 Points (-115 at bet365)
I’ve talked a lot about San Antonio’s postseason inexperience, but the Blazers haven’t touched the playoffs since the 2021 season, so there will be some jitters there too.
This is where Jrue Holiday should step in and settle the team down, like he did in the play-in against Phoenix, when he scored 21 points, adding four rebounds and four assists, while shooting 4-for-11 from downtown.
He’s scored at least 16 points in five of his last seven against the Spurs.
How To Watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs
Trail Blazers vs Spurs is the last game for the Sunday slate, airing at 9pm ET from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. Both NBC and Peacock will be providing the broadcast coverage, while basketball fans in Canada can catch the action live on TSN.