The Portland Trail Blazers host the Indiana Pacers on March 8, 2026, at Moda Center in an NBA regular-season matchup between two teams struggling for consistency late in the season. Portland is still fighting to stay relevant in the playoff race, while Indiana has endured a difficult stretch and is currently on a long losing streak.
The Pacers enter the game after several disappointing defensive performances. Their recent losses have come with high scores allowed, making it difficult for them to compete even when the offense produces points. Indiana’s struggles have been made worse by injuries to key players such as Tyrese Haliburton, who remains unavailable.
Portland, meanwhile, has also been inconsistent but remains in a stronger position overall. The Trail Blazers have shown flashes of offensive strength and rely on physical play inside the paint and frequent trips to the free-throw line. Despite some injury concerns of their own, Portland still has enough depth to compete at home.
This article includes standings, recent form, injury updates, player performances, head-to-head history, betting trends, and best picks for tonight’s NBA game.
Match Information
| Match | Indiana Pacers vs Portland Trail Blazers |
|---|---|
| Date | March 8, 2026 |
| Time | 9:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Moda Center |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Spread | Trail Blazers -8.5 |
| Over/Under | 236.5 |
| Moneyline | Pacers +300 / Blazers -400 |
Current Standings & Team Stats
| Team | Record | Win % | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Trail Blazers | 30–34 | 46.9% | 115.1 | 118.1 |
| Pacers | 15–48 | 23.8% | 111.4 | 119.9 |
Recent Form (Last Games)
Portland Trail Blazers – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 7 | Rockets | Loss 99-106 |
| Mar 5 | Grizzlies | Win 122-114 |
| Mar 2 | Hawks | Loss 101-135 |
| Feb 28 | Hornets | Loss 93-109 |
| Feb 27 | Bulls | Win 121-112 |
Portland has won two of its last five games and remains competitive at home.
Indiana Pacers – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 7 | Lakers | Loss 117-128 |
| Mar 5 | Clippers | Loss 107-130 |
| Mar 2 | Grizzlies | Loss 106-125 |
| Feb 27 | Hornets | Loss 109-133 |
| Feb 25 | 76ers | Loss 114-135 |
Indiana is currently on an eight-game losing streak, largely due to defensive struggles.
Also see: Bucks vs Magic Prediction: Last Games, Injury Report, Player Stats, H2H
Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Result |
| Total Meetings | 102 |
| Blazers Wins | 63 (Majority) |
| Pacers Wins | 39 (Fewer) |
| Last Meeting | Blazers 112 – Pacers 89 (Feb 4, 2025)* |
Portland has historically had the advantage in this matchup, especially at home.
Key Player Stats (Season Averages)
Portland Trail Blazers
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Jerami Grant | 18.5 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Scoot Henderson | 12.8 | 3.1 | 4.7 |
| Jrue Holiday | 16.4 | 4.2 | 6.8 |
| Donovan Clingan | 11.8 | 11.6 | 2.2 |
Indiana Pacers
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Pascal Siakam | 19.8 | 6.4 | 4.1 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 17.2 | 2.8 | 7.3 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 13.2 | 4.7 | 2.1 |
| Jarace Walker | 11.0 | 5.0 | 2.3 |
Injury Report
Indiana Pacers
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Tyrese Haliburton | Out – Achilles |
| Ivica Zubac | Out – Ankle |
| Andrew Nembhard | Questionable |
| Aaron Nesmith | Probable |
| Pascal Siakam | Probable |
Portland Trail Blazers
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Damian Lillard | Out – Achilles |
| Shaedon Sharpe | Out – Leg |
| Deni Avdija | Questionable |
| Kris Murray | Questionable |
Injuries affect both teams, but Indiana’s absences impact their playmaking the most.
Head-to-Head Trends
- Blazers have won most recent home matchups against Indiana
- Pacers have lost eight straight games
- Indiana has allowed 125+ points in several recent games
- Many Pacers games recently have gone over the total
Best Picks for Trail Blazers vs Pacers
| Market | Pick |
|---|---|
| Spread | Trail Blazers -8.5 |
| Total | Over 236.5 |
| Player Prop | Pascal Siakam Over Points |
| Moneyline | Trail Blazers to Win |
How to Watch Trail Blazers vs Pacers
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Arena | Moda Center |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Tip-off | 9:00 PM ET |
| TV Broadcast | Regional NBA networks |
| Live Stream | NBA streaming platforms |
Match Prediction
Portland has struggled recently but still holds the advantage over Indiana thanks to home court and better overall form. The Pacers’ defensive issues make it difficult for them to compete consistently, especially against teams that can attack the paint and draw fouls.
Indiana’s offense may produce points through Pascal Siakam, but the lack of a primary playmaker could hurt them against Portland’s defense.
Predicted Score
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Trail Blazers | 126 |
| Pacers | 114 |
The Trail Blazers enter this matchup with the stronger roster and home-court advantage. Indiana’s current losing streak and defensive struggles make them difficult to trust in this game.
If Portland controls the tempo and attacks inside the paint, the Blazers should be able to secure a comfortable victory while covering the spread.
