The Phoenix Suns will be without their leading scorer when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday as Devin Booker was placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols earlier in the day. Without the 25-year-old shooting guard, league-leading Phoenix (49-12) will be looking to avoid its longest losing streak of the season after dropping the first two contests of its four-game homestand. Portland (25-36) also has suffered back-to-back losses but is seeking its third consecutive win on the road.
Tip-off at the Footprint Center is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. Phoenix is an 11-point favorite in the latest Suns vs. Trail Blazers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 224.5. Before making any Trail Blazers vs. Suns picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 19 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 71-44 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Suns vs. Blazers, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Blazers vs. Suns:
- Suns vs. Trail Blazers spread: Phoenix -11
- Suns vs. Trail Blazers over-under: 224.5 points
- Suns vs. Trail Blazers money line: Phoenix -700, Portland +475
- PHX: The Suns are 0-4 against the spread in their last four home games
- POR: The Trail Blazers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 meetings with Phoenix
Why the Suns can cover
With Booker sidelined, Phoenix will need significant offensive production from a number of other sources. One of those is Deandre Ayton, who is second on the team with an average of 16.5 points. The 23-year-old center appears to be up to the task as he scored 23 points in Sunday's loss to Utah, marking the third time in four games he reached the 20-point mark.
Cameron Johnson also gave a solid effort against the Jazz, also scoring 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting -- including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. The small forward has gone 14-for-30 from 3-point range over his last four contests. Veteran power forward Jae Crowder is averaging only 9.2 points this season but has registered 12 or more in each of his last three outings.
Why the Trail Blazers can cover
Drew Eubanks was signed to a 10-day contract on Feb. 22 after being waived by Toronto, but Portland may want to consider keeping him a bit longer. In just his second game with Portland on Sunday, a 124-92 home loss against Denver, the 25-year-old power forward recorded 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds. It was Eubanks' fifth career double-double and second this season, with the first coming on Nov. 7 versus Oklahoma City while he was with San Antonio.
Anfernee Simons led the Trail Blazers with 16 points in the loss to the Nuggets and is averaging 17.1 this season. Prior to that outing, the 22-year-old shooting guard had scored at least 24 points in five straight contests, making 27-of-56 shots from beyond the arc in that span. Point guard Brandon Williams, who was signed to a two-way contract on the same day Portland inked Eubanks, has come off the bench to register 12 points in each of his two games with the club.
How to make Trail Blazers vs. Suns picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 225 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in nearly 70 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Suns vs. Trail Blazers? And which side of the spread hits almost 70 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
