The Rockets produced just 79 points in an embarrassing loss to the Blazers just four days ago, and now have a chance to avenge that beatdown. Houston makes the trip to the Pacific Northwest one day after battling the NBA-best Warriors. The Blazers have won seven of their last eight heading into their final game before the All-Star break.
You can bet on NBA odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
SCHEDULING
Houston looks to avenge an embarrassing loss to the Blazers just four days ago when the Rockets were humbled 96-79, producing their second-lowest point total of the season. It was Houston’s fourth loss in five games and sent them on a back-to-back road trip to two of the toughest arenas in the Western Conference. It’s conceivable the Rockets could be a sub-.500 team when the break rolls around following games against Golden State and the Blazers. Houston is 6-7 SU and 5-8 ATS in the second of its 13 back-to-backs this season and has cashed the over 10 times in those games.
Not much was expected of the Blazers after losing four starters from last year’s playoff team. But they’re hanging around the bottom of the Western Conference playoff race and they seem to have found an identity of late behind one of the NBA’s more dynamic backcourts. The Blazers have an excellent opportunity to gain some ground in the conference standings as they open a five-game homestand with Wednesday’s visit from the Rockets and continue a stretch where they play 12 of 14 at the Rose Garden. Of course, the home stay is interrupted by the All-Star break, but they play their final home contest before the week-long interruption coming off a pair of road wins, including a thrashing of the Rockets that evened the season series at a game each.
INJURIES
Terrence Jones was released from the hospital and returned to the Rockets, but has not been cleared to play yet. Jones was involved in a car accident last week and sustained a concussion, entering the league’s protocol for such injuries.
Portland’s Noah Vonleh did not play Monday, missing his third consecutive game with an ankle injury, but is progressing. He said after Monday’s game that he should be ready “pretty soon.”
KEY MATCHUP
Damian Lillard is the lone starter remaining from last year’s Northwest Division winners that won 51 games and plenty was expected from him this season. He hasn’t disappointed for the Blazers. Lillard scored 33 points in Monday’s 112-106 win at Memphis, his 12th outing with 30 or more points this year. Lillard had a gem in Saturday’s win at Houston, posting 21 points and 10 assists for his career-best third consecutive double-double. His season scoring average of 24.2 point per game represents a career-high for the fourth-year guard out of Weber State and his 7.3 assists per game are also a career-best. Lillard is likely to continue posting impressive individual statistics in an offense built around its rangy guard. He also has a good chance of putting up wild numbers against a team that has been doing its best to not play defense.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Who would have thought with the season halfway over that the Rockets would possess a 27-26 record and be sitting in seventh place in the West with two games remaining before the break. But there they are and changes could be coming for a team that was a series win away from the Finals last season. Following Saturday’s 17-point loss to the Blazers, many have come to the conclusion that the Rockets are not a good team. They are in pursuit of consistency and decency, desperately seeking a stretch of good basketball that might show they are better than their record indicates. It hasn’t happened yet, even after a coaching change, and it may not happen at all.
Portland 111, Houston 107
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform.
Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The contest pitting the Houston Rockets versus the Portland Trail Blazers will commence Wednesday, February 10, 2016, at 10:30 p.m. ET at the Moda Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
