Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers 10/18/18, Prediction & Odds

Lakers vs. Trail Blazers Prediction

The LeBron James era with the Los Angeles Lakers officially kicks off tonight as their regular season begins on national television at the Portland Trail Blazers? Will LA impress in its season opener and claim the road victory?

Game Snapshot

505 Los Angeles Lakers at 506 Portland Trail Blazers

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Moda Center at 10:35PM ET

TV: TNT

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Public Betting Information

According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Trail Blazers are a 3-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 222 points. As of Thursday morning, 53 percent of public bets are siding with host Portland. Check out our NBA Public Betting Page for the latest info. Check out our NBA Public Betting Page for the latest updates.

LeBron makes regular season debut with LA

The Lakers will have a new look this season and one that is going to be very much hyped following the addition of LeBron in free agency. LeBron comes into the fold after returning to Cleveland for three seasons, leading the Cavs to the NBA Finals each year and winning one NBA Championship. He averaged 27.5 points per game plus 9.1 assists and 9.6 rebounds. Los Angeles also added Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee as the roster this season will look much different. Los Angeles does still boast a young core that includes point guard Lonzo Ball plus forwards Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma.

Make-or-break year for Blazers

Portland was swept in the postseason last year and have well-documented playoff struggles with its backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. If the Trail Blazers are unable to win a playoff series this year, it could signal a shakeup of the roster. Lillard is now 28 years old and is coming off a season in which he averaged 26.9 points plus 6.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds. McCollum was a fine running mate as he put in 21.4 points per game along with 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Portland will need more consistency out of center Jusuf Nurkic and also get helpful play out of its slew of role players in order to have a successful season.

NBA Betting Trends

Los Angeles

The Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Thursday games. The under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

Portland

The over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Portland. The Trail Blazers are 44-17 ATS in the last 61 meetings.

Prediction:

This won't be an easy task for LeBron and company. Portland is always a tough atmosphere, but a season opener and such a spotlight game makes this a tough matchup for the Lakers. I think it will take some take for the chemistry to develop in LA and I am going to take the Trail Blazers tonight with more familiarity amongst the teammates on that roster helping to push them to a win.

 

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -3