It’s not quite as big as Super Bowl odds, but anytime the Los Angeles Lakers are involved in an NBA betting matchup, it’s bound to raise some eyebrows. The defending NBA champions will head to Portland on Saturday night, and the jury is still out on whether their leader will be there.
Lakers vs Trailblazers odds – Saturday, February 6, 10:00 PM ET
The Lakers (38-12 as of Friday) still have to host Denver on Friday night at the Staples Center, and they may be without Kobe Bryant, who is finally considering taking a game or two off. This time it’s an ankle injury, but Bryant has been dealing with back and finger injuries all season, and that’s just what we know about. This has to mean more touches for the rest of the Lakers, and mainly Pau Gasol, who has grumbled from time to time about his role in the offense, and more to the point, Bryant’s domination of the triangle offense. In their lone meeting with the Trailblazers this year, Bryant lit Portland up for 33 points, while Lamar Odom had a stat-stuffing day with 15 points, 13.0 boards, five assists and four steals.
You don’t have to tell the Trailblazers (30-22) about injuries, as there are few teams in the NBA that could complain about that than Portland, who are still missing Brandon Roy. LaMarcus Aldridge is trying to step up in his absence, and he’s averaged 22.6 points and 8.8 rebounds over his last five games. Aldridge was thought by many to be a star coming out of Texas a few years ago, but he’s seemed happy to let Roy take over the offense. But Aldridge is very similar to another former Longhorn, Kevin Durant. Aldridge doesn’t have Durant’s explosiveness, but he can score in a lot of different ways, and he’s better on the glass. Roy had 32 points when the Trailblazers won 107-98 at home on January 8th, and Jerryd Bayless added 21.
The Trailblazers should be the favorites at home according to your gambling software, and the Lakers have lost a staggering nine in a row at the Rose Garden. The Lakers are a spectacular 9-3 in the second half of back-to-back games this season, but that’s with Bryant in the lineup, and he’s been known to take over when he feels the rest of the Lakers are tiring. They’ll be facing a tough Denver team on Friday, while the Trailblazers had a day off after beating San Antonio in a close game on Thursday night. Look for the Trailblazers to come out with more engery and try to push the pace on the Lakers from the opening tip-off. We’re also betting on Bryant not being in the lineup.
Free sports betting pick: Portland
