Indiana Pacers at Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, February 18 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Trail Blazers about a 81% chance, and the Pacers would need an unusual night to change that.
Why the gap is wide
The Win Meter reads the Trail Blazers 81%, with a projected score of Indiana Pacers 111, Portland Trail Blazers 120. The rating gap is 156 points in favor of the Trail Blazers, and home court and rest add about 99 rating points for the Trail Blazers on top of that.
A reading this high has real meaning, but upsets of this size happen. Nearly one game in 5 like it goes the other way.
Recent form
The Pacers are 2-1 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -1.8. The Trail Blazers are 2-0 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -0.6.
The Pacers' best recent win was 136-109 on the road against BKN.
The Pacers were beaten 121-105 at home by DAL not long ago.
The Trail Blazers' best recent win was 124-83 at home against PHX.
The Trail Blazers were beaten 114-93 at home by SAS not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: T.J. McConnell (IND), expected back Oct 26, 2026, Johnny Furphy (IND), expected back Jan 2, 2027, Ben Sheppard (IND), expected back Dec 1, 2026, and Shaedon Sharpe (POR), expected back Mar 2, 2027.
Day to day or questionable: Ivica Zubac (IND), Chris Youngblood (POR), and Branden Carlson (POR). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Trail Blazers lead 3-1, with the Trail Blazers outscoring the Pacers by an average of 11 points per game. The last meeting was POR 127, IND 119.