Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers Predictions: Huge game for both squads

The NBA Regular Season is dashing toward the final stages and in less than a month, the Postseason will arrive. During the current window, the top-six spots for the Playoffs and the four spots for the Play-in tournament are at stake. Two Postseason aspirants, the Portland Trail Blazers are going to take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Trail Blazers enter this game after losing 112:126 against the Celtics despite a 41 points performance by Damian Lillard. Portland has lost five in a row and eight losses in ten games to further dent their progress. The Trail Blazers have 39 losses and 31 wins and they are continuously falling out of the Play-in progress. Their defense has been awful and they have given up 120+ repeatedly. Their offense has been all about Damian Lillard but this has been another season when Lillard has been again not getting enough help.

The Clippers enter the game after an unprecedented 108:113 loss against the Magic despite a 30 points outburst by Paul George. This broke a four-game winning streak and this loss proved the Clippers’ inability to go on lengthy winning streaks The Clippers have six losses in the last ten games so their play hasn’t been all that impressive. They have 37 wins and 34 losses, which does give them some cushion to seize a top-six spot but not by much. How will the Clippers fare from here?

• Trail Blazers: OUT: Ibou Badji, Jerami Grant, Justise Winslow. QUESTIONABLE: Nasir Little;
• Clippers: OUT: Brandon Boston Jr, Norman Powell. Game-Time Decision: Kawhi Leonard

Portland is playing awful defense these days and their play has been poor even at home. The Clippers’ defense has been way better but they will need more from their offense and some role players to step it up in closing moments. I believe the Clippers will extend the Blazers’ misery but this will be a close game too. I predict a scoreline of 123:119 in favor of the Clippers.