Lakers at Trail Blazers odds, picks and predictions

Jan. 17, 2026, 1:34 p.m. ET

The Los Angeles Lakers (24-15) travel to take on the Portland Trail Blazers (20-22) Saturday. Tip-off from Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, is set for 10 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Lakers vs. Trail Blazers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Tied 1-1

Los Angeles was embarrassed 135-117 by the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, failing to cover as a 3.5-point home favorite with the Over (235.5) cashing. Luka Doncic put up 39 points but the Lakers allowed the Hornets to hit 20 3-pointers while shooting 54% from the field and 47% from deep, rendering Doncic’s performance moot. The Lakers have lost 4 of their last 5.

Portland picked up an easy 117-101 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday to cover as a 4-point home underdog while the Under (229.5) hit. Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 24 points and 9 boards in the win. The Blazers dominated 54-40 on the glass while also forcing 20 turnovers and scoring 28 points off those turnovers.

The Lakers won 123-115 in their last matchup against Portland on Nov. 3, covering 10.5-point road underdogs as the Over (227.5) hit. Portland won the first matchup 122-108 on Oct. 27, in a game where the Over (221.5) also hit and the Blazers (-3.5) covered in Los Angeles. Both Doncic and LeBron James have missed both matchups against Portland this season.

Watch the NBA on Fubo!Lakers at Trail Blazers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 1:20 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Lakers +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Trail Blazers -150 (bet $150 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Lakers +3.5 (-110) | Trail Blazers -3.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U): 223.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Lakers at Trail Blazers key injuries

Lakers

C DeAndre Ayton (knee) questionableG Luka Doncic (groin) outC Jaxson Hayes (hamstring) questionableG Austin Reaves (calf) out

Trail Blazers

F Deni Avdija (back) doubtfulF Jerami Grant (Achilles) questionableG Scoot Henderson (hamstring) outG Jrue Holiday (calf) questionableG Damian Lillard (Achilles) outF Matisse Thybulle (knee) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Lakers at Trail Blazers picks and predictionsPrediction

Trail Blazers 118, Lakers 116

BET TRAIL BLAZERS (-150).

With Doncic, Reaves, and potentially both DeAndre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes out, the Lakers won’t have much of anything left to even bring out a full roster against the Blazers. The Blazers are also very injured, but they were already a team with more depth, and they are far less reliant on their top players than are the Lakers.

Look for Portland’s defense to be able to force key turnovers and get easy buckets in transition, as the Lakers are a team that is often very slow getting back and a bit loose with the ball.

LEAN LAKERS +3.5 (-110).

Los Angeles is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 matchups against the Blazers, covering in 3 of the last 4 matchups in Portland.

LeBron can clearly still give his team and the fans spectacular performances on spot nights, and this is a night where the Lakers will likely need him to do just that. Look for James to come out of the gates playing very aggressively and looking to get a lead on the Blazers early.

This is a very slight lean as LA’s defense will likely look terrible here, and as its offense will be completely reliant on a 41-year-old James to carry.

BET OVER 223.5 (-110).

The Over has hit in each of the last 3 games for the Lakers and is 23-16 for Los Angeles this season. The Over has also hit in each of the last 2 matchups between these squads.

Los Angeles is a terrible team defensively with almost no defensive playmakers, and with both of LA’s main centers listed as questionable, they may not even be able to close out possessions. Expect the Lakers to give up at least 115 points here.

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