Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers 10/25/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers Matchup Preview (10/25/21)

The Portland Trail Blazers will travel to Los Angeles to battle the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Portland lost a tough game against Sacramento at home, and everyone except for C.J. McCollum seemed to struggle. This included star Damian Lillard, who had 20 points in the game but shot 0-9 from deep and 8-24 from the field. Los Angeles recently lost a close game against the Golden State Warriors but had several auspicious moments, especially clawing back in the first half after a 25-point 1st quarter for Steph Curry. Portland will be looking to jump-start some momentum while Los Angeles will be simply trying to maintain it.

For Portland to have a chance of beating the Clippers in Los Angeles, it will need to play better defense. That is one of the primary hopes of bringing in former NBA Champions, Chauncey Billups, who played on one of the greatest defensive teams in NBA history. Under Terry Stotts, Portland consistently boasted a bottom-tier defense, and that has to change with Billups, or the Trail Blazers will be stuck in the same cycle they have been in for several years.

For Los Angeles to beat the Trail Blazers, it has to defend the three-point line better than it has done so far. The Clippers have to run guys off the line and force them to take shots inside. Zubac will have to protect the rim at a high level as Portland has several players who can convert inside or draw fouls. The Clippers will also need to slow down the Trail Blazers and their high-scoring frontcourt, as Los Angeles does not play as fast of a pace as Portland.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Odds

The opening line for the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers game dropped yesterday, and the spread is hovering around 3.5, with the Clippers being a slight favorite at home. The Moneyline for the Clippers is at -156, while Portland’s Moneyline is at +132. The point total is fairly high at 234.5.

The spread has the Clippers as a slight favorite; however, I like Portland at +4 or better. The Trail Blazers match up well with the Clippers as each team deploys one center. Neither center shoots threes, and both teams utilize them primarily as screeners and rebounders. Portland was the eighth-best team against the spread as an away underdog in the NBA.

TV Schedule

Date: 10/25/21
Time: 10:30 PM ET
Arena: Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
Channel: NBA TV

Live Stream Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers Free Online: Watch Every NBA Game

You can stream this game online for free. You can get a free 7-day trial and live stream NBA games from any device. Click the banner below and start watching.

Portland Trail Blazers Starting Lineup

PG: Damian Lillard
SG: C.J. McCollum
SF: Norman Powell
PF: Robert Covington
C: Jusuf Nurkic

Portland Trail Blazers Analysis

It has been a slow start for the Trail Blazers’ All-Star, Damian Lillard. He has had games of 20 points and 19 points to start the season, despite averaging around 30 points per game for the past two seasons. However, C.J. McCollum has stepped up in a big way as he is averaging 31 points through Portland’s first two games. The Trail Blazers had an absolutely explosive game against Phoenix on Saturday; they put up 134 points on the Suns, despite Phoenix having one of the better defenses in the league. All signs point to Portland playing a fast, up-tempo pace, as it ranks second in points per game thus far. It is only behind the New York Knicks, who obviously had that double-overtime game against the Boston Celtics. The Knicks will drop from first very quickly. While there are no guarantees that the Trail Blazers will play this fast-paced the whole season, it certainly appears that they might, and it’s hard to imagine there will be many teams who can keep up with them.

Los Angeles Clippers Starting Lineup

PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Eric Bledsoe
SF: Paul George
PF: Marcus Morris Sr.
C: Ivica Zubac

Los Angeles Clippers Analysis

Through two games, Paul George is averaging a monstrous 35 points, 10.5 rebounds, and five assists per game on 56.3% from the field and 43.5% from three. George has taken on somewhat of a primary playmaking role as he is creating more for his teammates now than he has in his whole career. While it is still extremely early in the 2021-21 season, his game has looked as complete as it ever has; he could be sliding into the MVP discussion as a dark horse. Other players who have had a huge impact early on into the season are Eric Bledsoe and Reggie Jackson, averaging 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers Daily Fantasy Picks

Damian Lillard had a rough first game of the 2021-22 season but still finished with 20 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds, which is nothing to scoff at. Last season, Lillard finished with averages of 28.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. The season before, he averaged an astounding 30 points per game. Lillard is still too young at 31 years old to regress significantly, especially considering his style of play which is primarily shooting. He could have one of the better seasons in his career this year, and expect him to put his talents on full display against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul George looked great in his first action of the regular season against the Warriors. It is almost like he hasn’t missed a beat since his heroic effort in the playoffs last season. George put up 29 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in his first 2021-22 season game and looked like a scorer and facilitator. He has been mostly known for his scoring and shooting ability throughout the years; however, his game has evolved to playmaking and passing, which should lend to his continued growth. There were passes that George made against Golden State that were surprising as he continues to be used more and more in the P&R (pick-and-roll) game. Additionally, George finished at the rim and was as aggressive in the paint as I have seen him.