Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Hornets Betting Pick & Prediction 1/24/25
At 7:00 ET, the Trail Blazers (16-28) will take on the Hornets (11-29) in a non-conference matchup. Portland is currently on a three-game winning streak and is 13th in the Western Conference. The Hornets are favored by 5 and are 13th in the Eastern Conference. The over/under line is 220.5.
This game will be played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. KATU will have the TV coverage for this game.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS CHARLOTTE HORNETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Portland Trail Blazers +5
This game will be played at Spectrum Center at 7:00 ET on Friday, January 24th.
WHY BET THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 138-109 in favor of the Trail Blazers.
- Our projections have Anfernee Simons finishing with 19 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Trail Blazers finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.6% and knocking down 15 threes.
Will the Trail Blazers Make it Happen in Charlotte?
Portland improved to 16-28 on the season with a 101-79 road win over the Magic on Thursday. Entering the game as +7 point underdogs, the Trail Blazers not only pulled off the upset but did so in commanding fashion, winning by 22 points. The game’s total of 180 points fell well short of the 213-point over/under line.
After trailing 21-18 at the end of the 1st quarter, Portland took control by outscoring Orlando 29-18 in the 2nd quarter. They continued to dominate in the 3rd and 4th quarters, outscoring the Magic 27-20 in each period.
Anfernee Simons led the Trail Blazers with 21 points, hitting 3 threes at a 50% rate in their win over the Magic. Toumani Camara added 16 points, shooting 66.7% from the field, while Deni Avdija contributed 13 points and 5 assists.
Portland shot 48.8% overall, but struggled from deep, making just 9 threes at 32.1%. Simons scored 11 points in the 2nd quarter and added 7 more in the 4th.
The Trail Blazers put on a defensive clinic against the Magic, allowing just 79 points in their win on Thursday. Portland held Orlando to 21 points in the 1st quarter and tightened up even more in the 2nd, giving up just 18 points. The Blazers continued their strong defensive effort in the 3rd and 4th quarters, allowing 20 points in each.
Portland’s defense limited the Magic to 34% shooting, including just 6 made three-pointers on 24% shooting from beyond the arc. The Blazers also recorded 14 steals and 12 blocks in the game.
Can the Hornets Hold Strong at Home?
Charlotte’s season record fell to 11-29 after a 132-120 road loss to the Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Hornets entered the game as +12 point underdogs, and the final score matched that spread. The total points for the game were 252, surpassing the O/U line of 242.
Memphis took control early, going on a 12-0 run and outscoring Charlotte 78-48 in the first half. The Hornets fought back, winning the 3rd and 4th quarters 36-28 and 36-26, but they couldn’t overcome the 106-84 deficit heading into the final period.
Mark Williams was a standout for the Hornets in their loss to the Grizzlies, scoring 38 points on 77.8% shooting. He was particularly effective in the 3rd and 4th quarters, scoring 14 and 15 points respectively. LaMelo Ball added 22 points, 10 of which came in the final period, despite shooting just 35% from the field.
As a team, the Hornets shot 47.7% overall, but made just 11 threes at a 35.5% rate. Miles Bridges contributed 17 points, with 5 coming in the 4th quarter.
The Hornets struggled defensively in the 1st and 2nd quarters, giving up 38 and 40 points, respectively, in their 132-120 loss to the Grizzlies. They tightened up in the 3rd and 4th quarters, allowing 28 and 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early damage.
Charlotte allowed Memphis to shoot 50% from the field, including 44% from three-point range, where the Grizzlies hit 21 threes. The Hornets sent Memphis to the line 14 times, where they made 13 free throws. Defensively, Charlotte recorded 9 steals and 4 blocks.