Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Odds & Picks | 02.28.26

Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Odds & NBA Picks | 02.28.26

As the NBA calendar flips to late February, the Portland Trail Blazers (29-31) travel to the Spectrum Center to face the Charlotte Hornets (29-31) in a pivotal cross-conference clash. With both teams sporting identical records and fighting for postseason positioning, this 1:00 PM matinee serves as a litmus test for two rosters trending in opposite directions regarding health and depth.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Hornets Matchup Preview

Portland Trail Blazers Key Stats & Trends

The Trail Blazers have leaned heavily on veteran Jerami Grant, who leads the squad with 18.8 points per game. Inside, rookie sensation Donovan Clingan has been a revelation, averaging a double-double with 11.9 PPG and 11.5 RPG, while adding a defensive presence of 1.5 blocks. However, the offense has struggled with consistency, often relying on Caleb Love (2.7 APG) to facilitate in a depleted backcourt.

Injury Report Portland Trail Blazers

• Deni Avdija (Out): Avdija (back) is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Hornets.
• Donovan Clingan (Day-to-day): Clingan (illness) is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Hornets.
• Shaedon Sharpe (Out): Sharpe (calf) will be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks, per Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland.
• Damian Lillard (Out): Lillard (Achilles) is sidelined; he recently defeated Devin Booker and Kon Knueppel to win his third 3-Point Contest title.

Charlotte Hornets Key Stats & Trends

Charlotte enters this matchup with a dynamic offensive duo. Brandon Miller has blossomed into a primary scoring option, averaging 20.9 points, while LaMelo Ball remains the engine of the transition game with 19.4 PPG and 7.3 APG. The Hornets have also found stability in the paint with Moussa Diabate, who is snatching 8.6 rebounds per contest, providing the second-chance opportunities Charlotte needs to outpace opponents.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction & Best Bet

The availability of personnel is the deciding factor here. Portland is severely handicapped without Damian Lillard and Shaedon Sharpe, and the potential absence of Donovan Clingan (illness) would leave their interior defense vulnerable. Charlotte’s healthy core of Ball and Miller should exploit Portland’s thin perimeter defense. Expect the Hornets to push the tempo against a Blazers team missing its primary playmakers.

The definitive pick is Charlotte Hornets -7.5 (Spread). Regarding the total of 229.5, we are leaning over. Charlotte’s high-octane offense combined with Portland’s defensive lapses due to injury suggests a high-scoring affair that clears the line late in the fourth quarter.