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Trail Blazers vs Lakers Props – Best Player Prop Bets February 25th

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in NBA Basketball

Updated Feb 26, 2021 · 6:28 AM PST

January 8, 2021, Los Angeles, California, USA: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their regular season NBA game with the Chicago Bulls on Friday January 8, 2021 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by PI/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)
  • The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night at the Staples Center
  • The Lakers have dropped five of their last six games and the Trail Blazers are on a three-game losing streak
  • A look at various Trail Blazers-Lakers player props can be found below with predictions

A pair of slumping Western Conference team meets when LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers host the Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET Friday night at the Staples Center.

The Lakers (22-11) have lost five of six games since Anthony Davis strained his Achilles tendon, forcing him to the bench. Los Angeles was spanked 115-89 by the Jazz on the road Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

The Trail Blazers (18-13) have lost three straight games, including dropping a 111-106 decision against the Nuggets on Wednesday in Denver.

Lillard is averaging 29.6 points a game, which is fourth in the NBA. James’ 25.8 average ranks 12th and his Lakers are favored by 5.5 points with the over/under set at 222.

Trail Blazers vs Lakers Player Props

Player Points Rebounds Assists Three-pointers made
Damian Lillard (POR) 30.5 (O -114 | U -108) 4.5 (O +124 | U -152) 8.5 (O -115 | U -105) 3.5 (O -160 | U +124)
Gary Trent Jr. (POR) 16.5 (O -118 | U -104) 2.5 (O +132 | U -162) N/A 3.5 (O+112 | U -142)
Enes Kanter (POR) 12.5 (O -106 | U -116) 12.5 (O -102 | U -120) N/A N/A
LeBron James (LAL)  28.5 (O -108 | U -112) 9.5 (O +100 | U -122) 8.5 (O -134 | U +110) 1.5 (O -200 | U +15)
Dennis Schroder (LAL) 16.5 (O  -122 | U +100) 3.5 (O -124 | U +102) 4.5 (O +112 | U -138) N/A
Kyle Kuzma (LAL) 14.5 (O -104 | U -118) 7.5 (O -104 | U -118) N/A N/A

Odds taken Feb. 26 from FanDuel

The Great Dame

Lillard has been asked to carry the Trail Blazers’ offense more than ever with CJ McCollum (foot) and Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) sidelined for extended periods. Lillard has responded by nearly matching his career-best 30 point scoring average of last season.

In the only other meeting between the Trail Blazers and Lakers this season, Lillard scored 31 points. That helped lead Portland to a 115-107 victory Dec. 28th in Los Angeles.

The Trail Blazers had McCollum and Nurkic in the lineup back then, so Lillard figures to be relied upon more heavily in this game. Portland has also great success against the Lakers in recent seasons, winning 19 of the last 23 matchups.

Lillard’s scoring total for this game is 30.5 points. However, he has surpassed that total 16 times this season, though he was held to 24 by the Phoenix Suns and 25 by the Nuggets in his last two games. Before that, he had 31 or more in four straight games.

It is instructive to note that though the Lakers lead the NBA in defensive rating, they have been only 12th in that category over the last 10 games.

  • Pick: Damien Lillard over 30.5 points (-114)

Schroder Returns for Lakers

In addition to Davis, the Lakers have also been playing without Dennis Schroder recently. However, the veteran guard is expected to return Friday after sitting out the last four game because of COVID-19 contact tracing.

Schroder has seamlessly fit into the offense during his first season with the Lakers. He is third on the team behind James and Davis in scoring with an average of 14.2 points and has reached double figures in 23 of his 29 games.

However, it seems likely Schroder will be somewhat rusty after missing a week of games and practices. And before scoring 24 points against the worst-in-the-NBA Minnesota Timberwolves in his last game, he managed just two points against the Memphis Grizzlies and eight against the Nuggets.

The offense looks discombobulated without Davis, as Los Angeles has been held under 100 points in three of its last four games. The Lakers failed to reach the century mark just three times in their first 29 games this season.

The Lakers’ offensive rating also has dropped to 18th in the league. Schroder may not be a magic cure-all in his first game back.

  • Pick: Dennis Schroder under 16.5 points (+100)
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