The Portland Trail Blazers head to Oklahoma to take on the OKC Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Tuesday night.
Entering Monday’s showdown with the Jazz in Utah, the Blazers have won six out of their last eight games but all their wins during that stretch came at home with Portland losing in Denver and Sacramento by an aggregate losing margin of 11 points in the other two games. On Tuesday, Portland hits the road again in the second of a back to back against the West’s #3 team in the OKC Thunder.
The Blazers are ranked 11th in the league in scoring as of Sunday, at 112.5 points per game. They are also the 2nd best rebounding team in the NBA at 48.1 boards per contest. However, Portland only ranks 25th in passing at 23.3 assists per game and they have the 14th ranked scoring defense with 110.1 points per game allowed.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Oklahoma City Thunder 1/22/19
Moneyline Odds: Trail Blazers +190, Thunder -220
Odds from getbets.eu as of 1/22/19
Like the Blazers, the Oklahoma City Thunder head to this matchup playing back to back games. The Thunder disposed of the hapless Knicks 127-109 in New York on Monday to win back to back road wins. Oklahoma snapped out of a three game losing skid with a thrilling 117-115 win over the Sixers in Philly last Saturday. Before the start of Monday’s games, the Thunder trailed the Denver Nuggets by 3.5 games in the Northwest Division.
The Thunder are the 8th best scoring team in the league at 113.5 points per game. Oklahoma City is ranked 23rd in passing at 22.7 assists per game and 3rd in rebounding at 48.1 boards per contest. OKC is allowing just 109.0 points per game which is the 10th best scoring defense in the entire NBA.
The Blazers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played and 1-2 SU in three road games during that period. The Thunder are 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played and the Thunder have only been 2-3 in their last five road games played. Head to head, the Blazers have won eight out of their last 10 games against the Thunder. OKC is 21-14 SU as favorites this season while the Blazers are just 6-12 SU as underdogs this season.
Both teams enter this game having played the night before. But while the Thunder played earlier on Monday afternoon, the Blazers played late and in fact their game against the Jazz had not started yet as of this writing. Having found no edge in rest, the Thunder should have the sligh advantage here as they travel home where they are 14-7 whereas the Blazers travel on the road again against a second straight playoff contender.
The Blazers are on a good roll right now but most of their wins during their current run have come at the Moda Center. The Chesapeake Energy Arena is one of the loudest arenas in the league and is a tough venue to play in and the Thunder have been solid there this season. The Blazers are a sub-.500 team on the road. I think this will be a good game between two playoff contenders and I think home court advantage is crucial here.
I’m picking the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Portland Trail Blazers on 1/22/19.
The Blazers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games and Portland is 2-1 ATS on the road during that stretch. The Thunder are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games played. Oklahoma City is just 2-3 ATS in their last five home games played,
Portland Trail Blazers vs Oklahoma City Thunder 1/22/19
Spread Odds: Trail Blazers +5.5 (-109), Thunder -5.5 (-109)
Odds from getbets.eu as of 1/22/19
Portland is 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against the Northwest Division and 1-4 ATS in their last five games played on Tuesday. The Thunder are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 home games when they are favored by 4-6 points. OKC is also 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games when favored by at least 5 points against the Blazers. Portland isn’t the same team on the road as they are at home so I’ll go with the home team here.
Prediction: Thunder -5.5
The under is 25-21-1 in Portland’s 47 games played this season. The under is also 23-20-2 in the 45 games played by the Thunder so far. Head to head, the total has gone under in six out of the last 10 games played between these two teams.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Oklahoma City Thunder 1/22/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 228 -109, Under 228 -109
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 1/22/19
The under has been the play for both teams individually this season and these teams have played to the under in their last three meetings. In their most recent matchup last January 4, 2019 in Portland, these teams combined for 220 points. In their last 10 meetings, these teams have combined to score 218.4 points per game. Portland’s offense isn’t as explosive on the road as it is at the Moda Center. The Thunder have a Top 10 defense. I like the under in this game.
Prediction: Under 228.
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