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Despite being the higher seed in their first-round matchup, the Portland Trail Blazers weren’t given a ton of respect as they faced off with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland brushed that off and won the first two games of the series and now can deliver a huge blow if it can grab a win in Game 3 next time out.
Oklahoma City is on the ropes and it could be an early playoff exit if the team can’t manage to get this win and get back in the series. The Thunder goes home for Game 3 where it will be favored to capture this contest. Oklahoma City would love to pick up the win in order to make this a competitive series again, while the Blazers would take complete control with the upset in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder will be held at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 19th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
The Thunder was a slight underdog in the first two games and with the series shifting to its home state, will be the favorite to win Game 3. Oklahoma City went 27-14 at home this season, and with the talent level between these teams pretty even, is hoping to pick up the win.
Portland went 21-20 on the road during the regular season so it will be a slightly uphill battle but certainly is capable of claiming this victory. The scoring total figures to be pretty high as both of these teams are comfortable pushing the pace in NBA wagering.
Last Time Out
The Thunder held a 10-point first half lead but Portland tied things up by halftime and then exploded in the third quarter. Portland kept Oklahoma City at bay in the fourth quarter and secured a 114-94 win.
The backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum led the way, as Lillard finished with 29 points and six assists while McCollum dominated with 33 points and eight rebounds. Portland shot the ball well and if that travels to Oklahoma City this team has a chance to put a vice grip on the series by going up 3-0.
Injury Report
It’s fair to wonder if the Oklahoma City star duo of Westbrook and George is 100 percent healthy. Westbrook tweaked his ankle in Game 1 and didn’t look too good in Game 2, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists while hitting on only 5-of-20 shots from the field and 1-of-6 from three-point range.
George looked better in Game 2, registering 27 points and eight rebounds, but he has been dealing with a shoulder injury all series which could be affecting his outside shooting. The Thunder needs both of its stars at full strength because its back is against the wall at this point.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Thunder and Blazers are very evenly-matched and the change in venue is going to be a mental boost for OKC. The crowd is going to be energetic, and it’s the type of atmosphere which players like Westbrook and George excel.
The Thunder and Trail Blazers will continue the theme of this series by playing in another fun contest. OKC will make enough big plays in the fourth quarter to claim the victory and will also cover the spread with some late free throws in NBA gambling.
This should be a shootout, so consider the “over” on the scoring total.
NBA ATS Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder 117, Portland Trail Blazers 113
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