NBA Playoffs
Western Conference – Round 1
Tip-off: Saturday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles -1.0, Total: 207.5

The Clippers will be looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead with a win in Game 3 in Portland Saturday.

The Clippers have been dominant in this series, winning-and-covering in each of the first two games. They’ll now head to Portland and look to take a 3-0 series lead. Los Angeles is winning games because the team is taking some great shots offensively. The Clippers shot 53.8% from the floor in Game 1 of this series and followed it up by shooting 46.0% in Game 2. They have also turned the ball over a total of 18 times in this series. The Blazers, meanwhile, have now shot less than 40% from the floor in each of the first two games in this series. Portland badly needs to start making some shots, as the team can’t afford to lose Game 3. One trend that favors the Clippers coming into this game is the fact that they are 12-3 ATS as a road favorite of six points or less this season. Los Angeles is, however, just 8-17 ATS after scoring 100 points or more in three straight games on the year. SG J.J. Redick (Heel) is a bit banged up coming into this game, but he’s expected to play on Saturday. C Meyers Leonard (Shoulder) is out for the season for the Blazers.

The Clippers are rolling right now and they could really put the Blazers away with a win on Saturday. The reason this team has been playing so well is because PG Chris Paul (26.5 PPG, 8.0 APG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG in playoffs) has been on fire for the Clippers. Paul has been doing everything that his team needs him to, finding his teammates for open buckets and being aggressive as a scorer when there is nothing there offensively. He has also played some solid defense on Damian Lillard. Paul will really need to come out looking to score on Saturday, though. The Blazers are a tough team to beat at home, so Paul will need to set an example by playing well at the start of this contest. PF Blake Griffin (15.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 BPG in playoffs) will, however, need to be better for this team. Griffin has looked good in spurts, but he needs to be consistent moving forward. He has not looked like the same player since coming back from his hand and quad injuries, and it’s important that he starts to play more like himself soon. One guy that has really done his job in this series is C DeAndre Jordan (10.5 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 3.5 BPG in playoffs). Jordan has been a monster on the glass and is doing his job protecting the rim for Los Angeles. If he can continue to do that then the Clippers should have no trouble winning this series.

The Blazers will come out with a ton of energy in their first home postseason game and this is a team that desperately needs to win. If Portland is going to come away with a victory in this one then PG Damian Lillard (19.0 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.0 RPG in playoffs) must be on top of his game. He has been badly outplayed by Chris Paul in this series and is shooting just 33.3% from the floor as well. If he is not more efficient then it’s going to be impossible for Portland to win even a game in this series. He’ll also need to find a way to lock in defensively because he is letting Chris Paul do whatever he pleases. Lillard does, however, need help and SG C.J. McCollum (12.5 PPG, 4.0 APG in playoffs) has not been providing any. McCollum averaged 20.8 PPG during the regular season, but he is shooting just 32.1% from the floor in this series. He was expected to have a big series against Los Angeles, as the team does not defend the shooting guard position well. That has not been the case, though. He’ll need to find a way to be more effective moving forward or the Blazers are likely going to get swept in this series.