The host Portland Trail Blazers are trying to keep their momentum while the Golden State Warriors are looking to seize some when the teams meet Thursday night. Portland (25-34) won four in a row heading into the All-Star break, while the Warriors (41-17) lost four of five. Still, Golden State is second in the Western Conference, while the Blazers are in the 10th spot. The Warriors are one of the league's best teams on both ends, and they won both previous meetings this season by at least 10 points. Portland has struggled on the defensive end but has looked like a different team in its recent games.
Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET at Moda Center in Portland, Ore. Golden State is a nine-point favorite in Caesars Sportsbook's latest Warriors vs. Blazers odds, while the over-under for total points is 223.5. Before making any Blazers vs. Warriors picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 69-41 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has broken down the Warriors vs. Blazers matchup, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the NBA odds and betting lines for Trail Blazers vs. Warriors:
- Warriors vs. Blazers spread: Golden State -9
- Warriors vs. Blazers over-under: 223.5 points
- Warriors vs. Blazers money line: Golden State -440, Portland +340
- GSW: They are 6-7-2 ATS as a road favorite this season
- POR: They are 6-8 ATS this season as a home underdog
Why the Warriors can cover
Golden State has the star power on its side, and Steph Curry and Co. will be intent on re-starting on a high note against a Portland squad that remains without Damian Lillard (abdominal). The Warriors struggled defensively during the five-game speed bump, but it has been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. They allow just 103.7 points per game, fourth-fewest in the league, and are second in opponent field-goal percentage (43.3) and third in 3-point defense (33.4 percent). The Blazers average 108 points (20th) and shoot 44.9 percent from the field (23rd), so Golden State should be able to limit their chances.
The Warriors are 9-7 against the spread after a loss and 29-26-1 ATS overall. They average 9.3 steals, second-most in the league, with Curry one of three players averaging 1.4. Golden State also is one of the better shooting teams in the league, with Curry and Klay Thompson both hitting better than 37 percent from outside and Andrew Wiggins at 41.4 (15th in NBA). Curry has made 50 more 3-pointers and attempted 128 more than any other player in the league. He leads the team in scoring (25.8 per game) and assists (6.3) and averages 5.3 rebounds.
Why the Blazers can cover
Portland has covered the spread in all four games during the win streak, and it will have the home crowd behind it as it tries to build on that strong run. The Blazers have scored more than 120 points in the past two games. The addition of Josh Hart in a trade with New Orleans seems to have sparked the offense. He has scored at least 22 in his three games and averages a team-high 24 for the season. Anfernee Simons has at least 29 in each game of the win streak and is averaging 17 per game.
Simons scored 31 points in a 123-119 victory against Memphis last Wednesday, hitting five of his 10 3-point tries, and he is shooting 40 percent from long range. Hart had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Grizzlies. The Blazers have gotten 16 of their 25 wins at home, and they are 15-17 ATS at the Moda Center this season. They allow 112 points per game for the season but have given up an average of 105 over their past nine games. Golden State has allowed an average of 115.6 over its past five.
How to make Warriors vs. Blazers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 219 combined points. It also says one side of the spread is hitting more than 60 percent of the time. You can only get the model's Blazers vs. Warriors pick at SportsLine.
So who wins the Blazers vs. Warriors matchup on Thursday night? And which side of the spread is hitting more than 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of Warriors vs. Blazers to back, all from the advanced model on a 69-41 run on its top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
