Today is the end of February and bettors could end the month with a bang with today’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Hornets. The Trail Blazers are barely in the play-in bracket, while the Hornets are trying to stay in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
With the season heading into its last full month, bettors could win big with today’s starting game for Saturday’s slate of games. The NBA season is heating up, and bettors could keep the weekend going with today’s slate of games with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Hornets.
Game Details
Date: February 28
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
TV/Streaming: BlazerVision, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, KUNP 16, NBA League Pass
Odds: Charlotte Hornets -340, CHA -8.5, o/u 230.5
Team Form & Recent Results
Portland Trail Blazers Recent Form
- The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off a win against the Chicago Bulls and have won three of their last five games.
- Portland is hanging onto the Western Conference play-in seeding as the ninth seed of the conference.
- The Trail Blazers’ offense has been poor, with a 13th-place ranking in PPG, with a poor FG% being 28th in the league and 29th in 3PT FG%.
- Jrue Holiday has been the Trail Blazers’ best player, scoring 15.5 PTS a game, with 4.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
Charlotte Hornets Recent Form
- Charlotte is coming off a win against the Pacers and is on a three-game winning streak
- The Hornets are holding the tenth seed of the Eastern Conference and holding a play-in spot.
- Charlotte has been shooting beyond the line well, with being second in 3PT FG, along with being a strong rebounding team, being fourth in rebounds.
- LaMelo Ball has been playing well this season, scoring 19.4 PTS, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.
Key Storylines
- The Portland Trail Blazers will be missing Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe due to injuries, while Donovan Clingan will be a GTD
- Portland is holding onto a play-in spot in the Western Conference, while the Hornets are holding the final Eastern Conference play-in spot.
- The Hornets are on a three-game winning streak, while the Trail Blazers are coming off a win and hope to build off from it.
- Las Vegas is favoring the Hornets due to the team being on a hot streak right now to end the month of February.
Players to Watch
Portland Trail Blazers
- Jerami Grant
- In the win against the Bulls, Grant scored 27 points with five rebounds and two assists.
- The veteran forward for the Blazers is scoring 18.8 PTS a game, with 2.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game
Charlotte Hornets
- Kon Knueppel
- In the win against the Pacers, Knueppel scored 28 points, with four rebounds and two assists.
- The rookie star for the Hornets is scoring 19.4 PTS a game, with 3.5 assists, and 5.4 rebounds.
Matchup Breakdown
Offense vs. Defense
The Portland Trail Blazers’ offense this season has been mediocre, with being 28th in FG%, 29th in 3PT FG%, and last in assist ratios. While the Hornets are a solid rebounding team ranked eighth in the league, they turn the ball over, being last in turnovers, and have a middling defense, being 19th in defensive rating.
While the Trail Blazers are holding onto their play-in spot, the Hornets’ offense has been having a strong shooting season, being second in 3PT FG%, fourth in rebounds, and seventh in offensive rebounds. The Hornets’ defense is also playing well, being 17th in defensive rating, but can’t steal the ball, being last in steals.
Coaching / Strategy Notes
For the Portland Trail Blazers to win today, they need a strong defensive game against Charlotte’s three-point shooting game. The Charlotte shooting has been getting hot, and Portland needs to stop them in order to win.
For the Hornets to win, they need a strong shooting game from Knueppel and the Hornets’ backcourt against the Trail Blazers. The Hornets also need to have a strong rebounding game against the Trail Blazers to get a win today.
Prediction
Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers 108, Charlotte Hornets 112
How to Watch
- TV channel/Local broadcasts: BlazerVision, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, KUNP 16
- Streaming: NBA League Pass
- Radio: SiriusXM
FAQ SECTION
Q: What time is the [Portland Trail Blazers] vs. [Charlotte Hornets] game?
A: [The time for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Hornets is at 1:00 PM.]
Q: Who is favored to win?
A: [The Hornets are the favorites to win due to being on a three-game winning streak.]
Q: Where is the game being played?
A: [Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC]
Q: What are the betting odds?
A: [(Charlotte Hornets -340, CHA -8.5, o/u 230.5)]
Conclusion
With the Portland Trail Blazers losing players to injuries, bettors could take the Charlotte Hornets in today’s game, but not cover due to both rosters being weak. The Hornets are coming off a win against the Pacers and could have another crucial win in their playoff hopes.
With the Hornets heating up, bettors could take the Hornets winning today against a sluggish Trail Blazers team that doesn’t have their stars healthy right now. Bettors could take a win in the Charlotte Hornets moneyline against the Portland Trail Blazers to end February.
