This inter-conference clash will open the NBA action on Sunday, November 27, so don’t waste your time and quickly check out the best Trail Blazers vs. Nets betting pick and odds.
Brooklyn will open the seven-game home stand when they host Portland at Barclays Center. The Nets are -5.5 favorites on PointsBet NY Sportsbook, while the total is set at 222.5 points. These inter-conference rivals have already met this season, and the Nets won that tilt 109-107 in Portland.
Trail Blazers snapped a losing streak with an OT win in New York
The Portland Trail Blazers (11-8, 13-6 ATS) went through their worst period of the season and four consecutive losses, but they managed to avoid the fifth loss in a row with a 132-129 overtime win. Anfernee Simons hit a couple of free throws late to force overtime, and precisely shooting from the stripe decided this game. Portland made 38 opposite New York’s 24, which was the biggest difference in an otherwise tied duel.
Jerami Grant led the Blazers with a career-high 44 points (10/20 FG, 3/7 3PT, 21/28 FT). Simmons contributed with 38 points, five assists, and four rebounds, Jusuf Nurkic added 20 points, eight boards, game-high seven dimes, and game-high two blocks, while Josh Hart impressed with a double-double of ten points and career-high 19 rebounds, along with four dishes, and two thefts.
PG Damian Lillard (calf), SG Gary Payton II (abdomen), and SF Keon Johnson (hip) are out indefinitely. C Drew Eubanks (back) is questionable to feature on Sunday against Brooklyn.
Nets’ second-half defense was criminal in a loss to the Pacers
The Brooklyn Nets (9-11, 8-11-1 ATS) returned home from a three-game road trip on which they suffered a couple of losses. The most recent 128-117 defeat to the Indiana Pacers came because Brooklyn’s defense allowed even 71 points in the second half, 40 of which in the final 12 minutes! The Nets did shoot well from the field (53.4%) but hit just eight free throws opposite Indiana’s 30. Also, the Nets committed nine more turnovers (19-10) than Indiana.
Kevin Durant flirted with a triple-double in this loss as he posted 36 points, nine rebounds, team-high eight assists, and two blocks. Kyrie Irving had 20 points, four boards, and four dimes, Ben Simmons scored 20 points and six rebounds, while Nic Claxton posted a double-double of 12 points and game-high 11 boards, along with a career-high five swats.
SG Yuta Watanabe (hamstring) and SF T.J. Warren (foot) are out indefinitely and will not play on Sunday against Portland.
Trends:
Portland:
- 4-9 ATS in the last 13 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game
- 1-4 ATS in the last five after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game
Brooklyn:
- 20-8-1 ATS in the last 29 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game
- 5-2 ATS in the last seven games following a straight-up loss of more than ten points
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets Pick
These teams are quite similar in points scored per game, allowed, and other key segments, so it’s going to be a tight one. Although they are playing without Lillard, the Blazers have enough quality players who can lead the team to a win, but I am going with the Nets, who will open a seven-game homestay, and I am backing them to get at least five wins in that span. They need it to go over .500 for the first time this season. After all, this team has championship aspirations, and it’s only a matter of time before they will connect several wins. So far, the Nets managed to win two in a row this year, which isn’t enough.
Pick: Take the Nets at -4.5 (-130)
The Total
Portland was unable to keep the opponents below 109 points in each of the last seven games, while the Nets did show somewhat better defense recently. Still, the last time Brooklyn limited the Blazers to double digits was in 2017, so I expect to see a high-scoring affair on Sunday in Brooklyn, NY. Over is 5-2 in the last seven H2H meetings in Brooklyn; Over is 5-2 in the Nets’ previous seven overall, while Over is 4-0 in Brooklyn’s last four Sunday games.
Pick: Go Over 222.5 points (-110)