Playing the Rockets for the third time in a span of seven games, Portland goes for the hat trick Thursday. The Blazers knocked off Houston by double-digits in each of those two wins, covering both times as part of their 5-1 ATS run.
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SCHEDULING
Houston was one of the NBA’s bigger disappointments in the opening three-and-a-half months and stumbled into the break with three consecutive double-digit losses at the tail end of a 2-6 slump. Two of the three losses prior to the break were handed out by the Trail Blazers in a span of five days. Portland won 96-79 in Houston on Feb. 9 and posted a 116-103 home win, sending the Rockets into the break one game below .500 at 27-28. Interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff called the Rockets a “broken team” prior to the hiatus, but he acknowledged that a win over the lowly Suns on Friday was a good start fueled by tight defense and domination in the paint, improving Houston to 12-15 SU and ATS away from home.
The Blazers look to close out their five-game homestand, and a stretch of 12 of 14 at the Moda Center, with another victory. They started the run with a home loss to Atlanta on Jan. 20 but have gone 11-1 since, including a 9-3 ATS mark. A pair of road games broke up the seven- and five-game homestands, and included a win at Houston on Feb. 6. Four days later the Blazers handed Houston another double-digit loss, 116-103, at home. If not for a 108-103 overtime loss in Houston on Nov. 18, the Blazers would be going for the four game season sweep. Portland did cover in that game and is 5-0 ATS in their last five meetings with the Rockets.
INJURIES
Two players the Rockets dealt at the deadline are back after the Pistons voided a three-team deal over concerns of center Donatas Motiejunas’ back. D-Mo and guard Marcus Thornton returned to the Rockets’ roster. Although he’s with the team on paper, expect Motiejunas to be out a while. Meanwhile, Terrence Jones cleared the league’s concussion protocol and is back with the team.
Noah Vonleh returned to the Blazers lineup after missing four games before the break with a sprained ankle, giving Portland a roster with no injuries reported.
KEY MATCHUP
With very few options among the frontcourt, the Blazers have relied on the sneaky good backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum for most of the team’s offense this season. Lillard is the team’s top scorer and the only regular starter to return from last season’s 51-win team. Not much was expected from Portland after the mass exodus. But Lillard has proven to be every bit the All-Star caliber player – even if he didn’t get named to the All-Star team – and is averaging a career-best 25.1 points per game. With some help from McCollum, who averages 21.1 points, the two combine to score nearly 45 percent of the team’s points. Even when opponents know what’s coming, they seem powerless to stop it. Lillard and McCollum each scored 34 points in Tuesday’s win over Brooklyn, Portland’s sixth straight and 11th in the past 12 games. Lillard has now scored at least 30 points in five straight games, including his herculean 51-point night in a blowout win over Golden State last Friday. In three games since the break, Lillard is averaging 38.3 points on 55.2 percent shooting. Houston is allergic to playing defense so expect the backcourt tandem to have another explosive effort.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
There’s no hotter team in the NBA right now than the Blazers, who won their sixth straight and 11th in their past 12 with Tuesday’s victory over Brooklyn. And once again Portland used the dynamic backcourt duo of Lillard and McCollum, who combined for 68 of the team’s 112 points. Twice during their six-game streak the Blazers knocked off Houston, doing so rather convincingly with a pair of double-digit wins outscoring the Rockets by 30 points. Portland has always been strong at home and the advantage has paid off recently. The Blazers are 11-2 SU and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 at the Moda Center. The Rockets limp in after an overtime loss in Utah, falling to 2-5 SU in their last seven on the road with both wins against the slumping Suns.
Portland 114, Houston 107
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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 Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 10:30 p.m. ET at the Moda Center. The contest will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
