Blazers Aim for Victory Against Struggling Hornets Tonight

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers will host the Charlotte Hornets at 10 p.m. ET Saturday at the Moda Center, seeking to break a four-game losing streak. Portland, with a record of 23-33, currently stands 13th in the Western Conference, while the Hornets, at 14-40, are positioned 14th in the East. Both teams have fared well against the spread this season, with the Blazers at 31-25 ATS and the Hornets at 28-24-2 ATS.

In the latest betting odds via SportsLine consensus, Portland is favored by 4.5 points, with the over/under set at 222 points. The Trail Blazers are looking to reclaim some momentum following a 110-102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Deni Avdija was notable in that game, scoring 28 points with five assists.

Toumani Camara also contributed significantly, going 7-for-8 for 19 points, adding seven rebounds and five steals. The team’s leading scorers include Anfernee Simons with 18.4 points per game and Shaedon Sharpe at 17 points per game.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are coming off a heavy 129-115 defeat against the Denver Nuggets. Despite the loss, Charlotte’s Miles Bridges delivered a standout performance with 36 points and 13 rebounds. The Hornets’ leading scorer this season is LaMelo Ball, averaging 27.3 points per game, while Bridges holds a prominent role with an average of 20.2 points.

In terms of injuries, the Hornets are missing DaQuan Jeffries (knee), Tre Mann (back), Brandon Miller (wrist), Josh Okogie (hamstring), and Grant Williams (ACL). The Blazers will also be without Deandre Ayton (calf) and Matisse Thybulle (ankle).

Despite their struggles, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford has repeatedly emphasized the importance of focusing on their performance, stating, “We can’t fix everything overnight, but our effort must be unwavering.”

Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups noted the urgency of the game, saying, “We need to treat every game like it’s a playoff game now. Losing to a team at the bottom of the standings would be a setback we can’t afford.” A victory would narrow the gap to 4.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the 10th playoff spot in the West.

The matchup marks an opportunity for Portland to make a statement, especially against a Hornets team struggling on the road with just five wins out of 25 games. Portland’s last encounter with Charlotte resulted in a close 102-97 victory on January 24, but the Hornets were without several key players in that match.

The predicted starting lineups feature the following players: For Portland, Avdija, Simons, Jerami Grant, and Camara headline the squad, while Charlotte looks to Ball, Bridges, and Mark Williams as pivotal players.

As the teams gear up for tonight’s clash, the Blazers are hoping that home court advantage will propel them to victory, while the Hornets seek to capitalize on any momentum they can build.

This evening’s game airs on KATU, KUNP, and various streaming platforms, kicking off at 10 p.m. ET.