Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/1/2022

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

Where to watch: KENS, ROOT-SP+

DraftKings: Spurs -14.5

BetMGM: Spurs -14.5

Caesars: Spurs -15

Trail Blazers: 27-49

Spurs: 31-45

The San Antonio Spurs are coming for a playoff spot and have been involved in a favorable schedule as of late to get to this point. They’re going to be in a fight with the Los Angeles Lakers for the final spot in the play-in tournament, and with more games like against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, that might help the cause.

 

San Antonio is coming off a 112-111 loss to the first-place Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday that put them in a deadlock with the Lakers at 31-45 and tied for 10th place in the West. The Spurs own the tiebreaker and with six games remaining things are getting really interesting down the stretch. But it shows the Spurs are playing well enough to get in the actual tournament for a chance.

 

Dejounte Murray had a game-high 33 points to go along with 13 rebounds while going 6 of 9 from 3-point range. Keldon Johnson added 23 points but went 9 of 21 shooting for a San Antonio team that shot more than 50 percent from the floor.

 

"I was really proud of them," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "But I am proud of them, it was great. Good stuff. Great growing experience for them against a hell of a team. Like I said before, Taylor and his staff have done a fantastic job. That team competes hard, they execute really well, maybe better than most anybody in the league, so that is a fine performance for us tonight."

 

Not many people expected the Spurs to even stay afloat for this long, but they’re getting a chance because of the Lakers’ incompetence. After Los Angeles lost again on Thursday, this time to the Utah Jazz, it’s opened the door for the Spurs to swoop back into the playoffs after a year away. Popovich might not have many years left in the coaching ranks, but the winningest coach in NBA history could potentially pull off one of his greatest coaching jobs yet if he gets this group to the playoffs.

 

Waiting on the other side are the struggling Trail Blazers who are just trying to limp to the finish line at this point. The Blazers, without Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season, don’t have much to cheer for in Chauncey Billups’ first full season as an NBA coach. Portland lost 117-107 on Wednesday to the New Orleans Pelicans in CJ McCollum’s return to Portland.

 

McCollum, who was traded to the Pelicans at the trade deadline, scored 25 points on his former team.

 

Drew Eubanks led the Blazers with 21 points and nine rebounds while Reggie Perry and Ben McLemore had 16 points each off the bench.

 

"I got off to a good start and then I just got tired," McCollum said. "I almost air-balled a free throw. I was just physically and mentally drained. I tried to focus on a game but there's a lot going on. You can't really explain, it takes your energy away because it's emotional. I'm glad I was able to go through it and help my team tonight but I'm looking forward to turning the page."

 

The Blazers aren’t eliminated yet from playoff contention, but they’re running out of time. They’re 13th in the West and a loss would all but virtually eliminate them from playoff contention. What was once an expected occurrence can soon be a formality within a number of days.

 

"CJ, obviously it was emotional for him so he was going get a lot of shots up and make most of them because he's a great player," Eubanks said. "I thought we did a good job for the most part on their big 3."

Another one of the “don’t overthink it” specials. The Spurs are in a good spot right now, playing great basketball with their young core led by an All-Star point guard. The Blazers are signing guys off the streets and are just hoping they can contribute in some fashion. They’ve got some great play from Eubanks and McLemore as of late, but those two are no match for what the likes of Murray and Johnson as a great 1-2, pick-and-roll type of group. Give me San Antonio as they continue to charge toward the playoffs. Spurs by 16

The Blazers are 18-32 ATS as an underdog this season.

The Blazers are 10-18 ATS as a road underdog this season.

The Blazers are 5-14 ATS when revenging a home loss against their opponent this season.

The Spurs are 37-49 ATS as a favorite over the past three seasons.

The over is 6-1 when the Spurs are a favorite of 10 or more points the past three seasons.

PG: Brandon Williams

SG: CJ Elleby

SF: Elijah Hughes

PF: Greg Brown III

C: Drew Eubanks

PG: Dejounte Murray

SG: Joshua Primo

SF: Devin Vassell

PF: Keldon Johnson

C: Jakob Poeltl

 

Blazers: Damian Lillard (abdomen, out), Jusuf Nurkic (foot, out), Anfernee Simons (quad, out), Josh Hart (knee, out), Eric Bledsoe (Achilles, out), Joe Ingles (ACL, out)

Spurs: Doug McDermott (ankle, out), Keita Bates-Diop (back, questionable)

Points: Damian Lillard -- 24.0

Rebounds: Jusuf Nurkic -- 11.1

Assists: Damian Lillard -- 7.3

Points: Dejounte Murray -- 21.2

Rebounds: Jakob Poeltl -- 9.3

Assists: Dejounte Murray -- 9.3