NBA Basketball
2026-03-31 - Portland Trail Blazers at LA Clippers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NBA Basketball
Tuesday 31st March 2026 - Scheduled 11pm EST
4am (British Time)
Preview
Three of the four Western Conference Play In Tournament competitors look like they are locked in with the current Number 8 Seeded LA Clippers (39-36) 6.5 games behind the top six places. The most immediate concern for the Clippers is to build on the five wins in a row as they push for at least a top eight finish, which would offer them two chances to earn a berth in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs.
Winning on Tuesday will go a long way towards doing that as the Clippers host the Portland Trail Blazers (38-38) who are only 1.5 games behind them in the standings.
Six wins in eight games means the Trail Blazers will be arriving in Los Angeles filled with confidence of their own, but they are looking to snap a four game losing run to the Clippers. They will face each other once more after Tuesday evening before the end of the regular season, but the Trail Blazers will be looking to snap that losing run right away and really get into a battle for a top eight finish.
Recent positive form produced by Portland has been behind some very strong Offensive play and they will certainly feel they can keep that going in this one. There is a nice balance to the roster construction and players are producing with confidence from the three point range, which always makes teams that much more dangerous.
Size around the boards also offers up those second chance opportunities and the Trail Blazers will feel good about themselves, even if they are taking on a LA Clippers team in fine form of their own.
This also represents a first look at the new roster that the Clippers have put together in their bid to not only reach the First Round of the Playoffs, but to actually make an impact if they can get there.
During this five game winning run, the Clippers have averaged 53% shooting from the field and they have been very balanced with the approach taken. However, they are going up against a Portland team that have knuckled down on the Defensive side of the court in recent games, although it should be noted that the recent schedule has been pretty soft for the Trail Blazers.
That is not going to be the case on Tuesday, but the same can be said for the Clippers who have just taken advantage of a set of games against opponents that are not expected to have a big impact beyond the regular season.
Both teams have decent records against the spread this season, but the head to head may prove to be a difference when it comes down to the crunch.
LA Clippers may have changed the roster around, but there is still plenty of talent they can call upon and it may just see them edge past the mark set for this game.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite.
The Pick :
LA Clippers 125-117 Portland Trail Blazers
