Indiana Pacers vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions for Sunday March 8 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/08/2026, 01:40 AM ET

The Indiana Pacers travel to Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Sunday night at the Moda Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM with the game broadcast on KUNP 16. Both teams enter this matchup looking to improve their position as the season progresses, although they have struggled for consistency recently. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free NBA picks for more predictions and betting insights.

Pacers Searching for a Breakthrough

Indiana enters this matchup with a 15-48 overall record and a difficult 5-26 record on the road. The Pacers have had a challenging season and are currently trying to snap a lengthy losing streak. In their last five games, Indiana has recently lost to Los Angeles Lakers 128-117, recently lost to LA Clippers 130-107, recently lost to Memphis 125-106, recently lost to Charlotte 133-109, and recently lost to Philadelphia 135-114.

The Pacers average 111.3 points per game while allowing 119.9 points per contest. Indiana shoots 45 percent from the field and averages 26.4 assists per game, showing their ability to move the ball offensively. They also collect 42.3 rebounds per game while contributing 4.7 blocks and 7.4 steals per contest defensively.

One of the biggest challenges for Indiana this season has been their defense. Allowing nearly 120 points per game makes it difficult to remain competitive against most opponents. If the Pacers hope to keep this game close, they will need to improve defensively and limit Portland’s scoring opportunities.

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Trail Blazers Hoping to Build Momentum

Portland enters this contest with a 30-34 overall record and a 16-15 record at home. The Trail Blazers have had mixed results this season but remain capable of producing offense in many matchups. In their last five games, Portland has recently lost to Houston 106-99, recently won over Memphis 122-114, recently lost to Atlanta 135-101, recently lost to Charlotte 109-93, and recently won over Chicago 121-112.

The Trail Blazers average 115.3 points per game while allowing 118.1 points per contest. Portland shoots 45 percent from the field and averages 24.7 assists per game. They also collect 45.7 rebounds per contest while contributing defensively with 5.2 blocks and 8.1 steals per game.

One of Portland’s strengths this season has been their ability to rebound and create second-chance scoring opportunities. Their rebounding advantage often helps them maintain offensive pressure even when their shooting percentages fluctuate. If the Trail Blazers can control the boards and push the pace, they could create problems for Indiana’s defense.

Indiana Pacers vs Portland Trail Blazers Pick

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland enters this matchup with the advantage of playing at home and has shown the ability to produce more consistent offensive performances than Indiana. The Trail Blazers average over 115 points per game and should be able to exploit Indiana’s defensive struggles.

The Pacers have lost several games in a row and have had difficulty slowing opposing offenses. If Portland is able to push the pace and take advantage of Indiana’s defensive weaknesses, the Trail Blazers should be able to cover the spread in this matchup.

Indiana Pacers vs Portland Trail Blazers Total Pick

Over #

I like the over in this matchup because both teams have struggled defensively throughout the season. Indiana allows nearly 120 points per game, while Portland allows over 118 points per contest.

When two teams with defensive issues face each other, the pace often increases and scoring opportunities become easier to create. With both teams capable of producing offense, the total could move upward quickly.

Final Score Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers 120, Indiana Pacers 112

This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Saturday.