The Brooklyn Nets (35-36) hold the seventh slot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and appear set for a NBA Playoff date with the second-seeded Toronto Raptors after the Orlando “bubble” games come to an end. They still have an encounter with the Portland Trail Blazers (34-39), who have edged their way into eighth place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of Memphis, Phoenix and San Antonio. The Trail Blazers appear to have a little more to play for, as one loss could end up sending them out of the top nine — and out of the postseason.
Take a look at our basketball betting thoughts about Thursday night’s clash.
NBA Game: (August 13)
Portland Trail Blazers vs Brooklyn Nets
Game Details
When: Thursday, August 13, 2020, 9:00 pm ET
Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando
TV: ESPN
Radio: KPOJ 620 AM Portland / WFAN 101.9 FM New York City
Live Stream: fuboTV
Game Betting Odds
NBA Odds:
Portland -10 | Check the Blazers Odds
Brooklyn +10 | Check the Nets Odds
Total: 236½
Why should you Bet on Portland?
Portland’s Damian Lillard has to be the “bubble” MVP, as his offense has carried the Trail Blazers toward a slot in the postseason. He had already scored 51 points in a game in Orlando, and he followed that up on Tuesday by dropping 61 on the Dallas Mavericks, in a 134-131 win. Portland ran out to a 38-31 lead after the first period, and the track meet continued from there, as neither team was interested in playing a lot of defense.
Lillard also had five boards and eight assists to go with his 61-spot. Carmelo Anthony put up 26 points, eight boards and two assists in a throwback performance. Gary Trent Jr. (11 points) and Zach Collins (11) also hit double figures. Jusuf Nurkic led the team with nine boards, although Hassan Whiteside, Anthony and Collins all had eight apiece. If you like Portland, you see their offensive juggernaut overwhelming another defensive pretender in the Nets.
Why should you Put your Money on the Nets?
Brooklyn took care of business against an Orlando team that is out of the postseason on Tuesday, winning by a score of 108-96. Brooklyn never gave the Magic a chance to get things going, running out to a 12-point lead after the first quarter and going into the locker room at halftime up 17.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jeremiah Martin led the Nets with 24 points apiece. Dzanan Musa (17 points), Tyler Johnson (14), Lance Thomas (12) and Donta’ Hall (10) also scored in double figures. Rodions Kurucs and Hall led the team with nine boards apiece, and Martin and Musa each dished out six assists. If you like the Nets here, you may think that Portland will come in a little slow after needing 134 points to put down Dallas on Tuesday, but the Trail Blazers have not really shown any signs of slowing down or getting tired since the “bubble” games began.
Final Score Prediction
Kudos to Brooklyn for making it into the postseason without so many contributing players, such as Kevin Durant. However, they are about to hit an offensive juggernaut in a Portland team that is streaking at just the right time and, if they can snag that eighth spot, will give the Lakers all they can handle in the first round. On Thursday night, though, I see Portland taking care of matters after a slow start and running to a 122-109 win.
Blazers vs Nets | Check the Odds
