Trail Blazers vs. Wizards NBA expert prediction, pick and odds for Friday, April 5 (Pick Portland as underdogs)
Two teams with all eyes on the NBA Draft will square off in our nation’s capital. Both teams are looking forward to an offseason rebuild. Portland snapped a 10-game losing streak on Wednesday with a road victory over Charlotte in a defensive slugfest (89-86). Can they muddy the waters again against a fast-paced Washington squad?
The Wizards have dropped four of five and are small favorites in Friday’s matchup. Here’s the betting preview of the matchup with a best bet.
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Trail Blazers vs. Wizards odds, spread and total
Trail Blazers vs. Wizards how to watch
- Date: Friday, April 5
- Game time: 7 p.m. EST
- Venue: Capital One Arena
- How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
- Trail Blazers record: 20-56
- Wizards record: 15-62
Trail Blazers vs. Wizards injury report
Portland Trail Blazers
- Ibou Badji (back): questionable
- Malcolm Brogdon (elbow): out
- Toumani Camara (rib): out
- Jerami Grant (hamstring): doubtful
- Justin Minaya (ilium): questionable
- Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal): out
- Anfernee Simons (knee): out
- Matisse Thybulle (ankle): out
- Robert Williams III (knee): out
Washington Wizards
- Deni Avdija (head): questionable
- Marvin Bagley III (knee): out
- Bilal Coulibaly (wrist): out
- Johnny Davis (ankle): questionable
- Richaun Holmes (toe): questionable
- Tyus Jones (back): out
- Kyle Kuzma (ankle): out
- Isaiah Livers (hip): out
- Landry Shamat (calf): out
Trail Blazers vs. Wizards key players to watch
Portland Trail Blazers
Jabari Walker: In a low-scoring win over the Hornets dominated by defense, Walker cleaned up on the glass, recording a season-high 22 rebounds. He struggled on the offensive end, going just 4-of-17 from the field, but did finish a double-double with 14 points.
Washington Wizards
Jordan Poole: The former first-round pick continues to put up numbers in a lost season. Poole is averaging 17.1 points per game despite shooting just north of 41% from the field. Poole has been fantastic to open April, turning in a double-double (16 points, 13 assists) in an upset of the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday and going for 29 points in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers.
Trail Blazers vs. Wizards prediction and pick
Washington is in unfamiliar territory as a betting favorite for just the ninth time this season. It hasn’t been a favorable spot for the lowly Wizards, who are 2-6 ATS as a favorite thus far and 1-5 ATS in their last six situations when giving points.
Missing a ton of pieces, the Wizards could run into problems playing their up-tempo (No. 1 in the NBA in pace) against Portland. The Trail Blazers play at the 20th fastest pace in the league but will also be without key players that feed into that season-long number.
Portland can still dominate down low behind Deandre Ayton, one of the only healthy stars on the Trail Blazers. Washington is a middle–of-the-road 2-point shooting team, though the Wizards still prefer to light it fly from the perimeter (35.3 triples per game) and Portland is top-5 in the NBA against 3-pointers.
Overall, laying points with a bad team that has struggled as a favorite does not inspire much confidence. Take the short number with the Trail Blazers, who have covered in five of their last nine games (all as underdogs).
Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.