The PORTLAND and the CHICAGO will both be gunning for a victory on 1/30/2021 at 8:00 PM when they meet in a game matchup.
PORTLAND vs CHICAGO
When: 1/30/2021 8:00 PM
Where:
| ROT | TEAM | PS | OU | ML |
| 501 | PORTLAND | -2 (-110) | 233.5 (-110) | 105 -125 |
| 502 | CHICAGO |
TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: -2
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , PORTLAND
Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as -2 point favorites versus the PORTLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 233.5.
| Tony’s Pick | TEAM |
| PORTLAND | 105 |
The Portland Trail Blazers and host Chicago Bulls each will look to avoid a three-game losing streak when they tip off Saturday night.
Portland and Chicago each have dropped back-to-back games, although both of the Blazers’ losses have come by single digits and both of the Bulls’ losses have come by double digits. This will mark the first meeting between the teams in Chicago since Nov. 25, 2019.
The Blazers will be short-handed. Forward Derrick Jones Jr. (foot sprain) is out, and joins guard CJ McCollum (midfoot sprain) and center Jusuf Nurkic (broken wrist) in missing Thursday’s game. Forward Robert Covington (concussion) is questionable.
The absences have forced teammates such as Anfernee Simons to play a larger role. Simons has responded well, averaging 18.7 points and 4.3 rebounds over his past three games.
“I think from an offensive standpoint, he’s certainly comfortable taking shots, running the offense,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said of Simons. “With CJ out, he knows that there’s more responsibility, and he accepted that responsibility.”
Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 30 points and nine assists in their most recent game, a 104-101 loss against Houston. Lillard is averaging 28.8 points and 7.1 assists on the season.
In 16 career games against the Bulls, Lillard has averaged 21.0 points and 6.8 assists.
Meanwhile, the Bulls are coming off back-to-back losses against the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday and the Boston Celtics on Monday, but they have not played since then. The team had a longer-than-expected break because of COVID-19 concerns involving the Memphis Grizzlies, whom they were supposed to face on the road Wednesday before the game was postponed.
Bulls guard Tomas Satoransky said the extended break could prove beneficial.
“Obviously, we want to play games,” Satoransky said. “Nobody likes when games are postponed, but personally for me, it was really good just to have a couple of good practices. On Wednesday, we basically played the whole practice.
“That helps you with stamina. That helps with your rhythm. My conditioning got much better, and you get that feel back. So I’m glad that I could work with the team like that for a couple of days. You don’t have that many moments during the season.”
This is the second meeting between the teams this season. In their first matchup Jan. 5 in Portland, second-year guard Coby White scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Bulls to a 111-108 win. Otto Porter Jr. added 19 points and 13 boards.
McCollum, now injured, had 26 points to lead the Blazers. Lillard tallied 24 points and nine assists.
This will be the Bulls’ fourth straight game without Wendell Carter Jr., who is sidelined for at least the next several weeks because of a severe right quadriceps contusion. Daniel Gafford has earned more playing time in Carter’s place, but he is hoping for a better performance against Portland.
The second-year big man has started the past three games, averaging only 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds.
“The past couple of games, I’ve been a bit stuck in the mud, really,” Gafford said. “I’m working on getting out of that funk right now. It’s a little bit of a bump that I’m trying to get over.”
25% Bonus via Western Union
