Oklahoma City (39-25) at Portland (39-25)
When: Thursday, March 7th, 2019
Where: Moda Center,
Portland, Oregon
Time: 10:35 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Portland -4/233
There’s a three-way tie in the Western Conference standings for the No. 3 seed entering Wednesday’s action and two of those teams will meet on TNT Thursday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Portland Trail Blazers. The Thunder own the tiebreaker over Portland already by taking the first three meetings and will look for the season sweep on Thursday. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses as the Thunder dropped their fifth game in the last six with a 131-120 road loss at Minnesota on Tuesday. All-Star forward Paul George was back in action Tuesday after missing the previous three games (shoulder) and was a rusty 8-of-25 from the field in scoring his 25 points. George is averaging 40 points in the three meetings with Portland this season including 47 on February 11th. The Blazers come home after a very successful 5-2 road trip that included victories in Boston and Philadelphia, but they ran out of gas in a 120-111 loss at Memphis on Tuesday. The Trail Blazers led by as many as 16 points in the opening quarter but were outscored 38-25 in the final quarter. The Thunder ended an eight-game losing streak in the Rose City with a 111-109 victory on January 4th.
Oklahoma City center Steven Adams is doing his best during the team’s recent struggles with four straight double-doubles and is averaging 13.5 points and 15 rebounds during the stretch. Defense has been an issue for the Thunder lately, allowing above their 111.2 average on six times in last eight games. Point guard Russell Westbrook got back on track with 38 points against the Timberwolves after failing to score more than 23 in the previous four games. The Thunder will continue their four-game road trip in L.A. tomorrow night against the Clippers.
While George is having his way with the Blazers this season, Lillard has also stepped up his game against tonight’s opponent by averaging 29.3 points against Oklahoma City and has topped 30 twice. Lillard is coming off a 24-point performance in Tuesday’s loss to Memphis, while fellow guard CJ McCollum led the way with 27. Portland is only home for one more game (Saturday vs. Phoenix) before heading back out on the road for three more.
These are two teams going in opposite directions right now. OKC has been really bad lately, failing to cover the spread in each of their last eight games, while the Blazers are on a roll with seven covers in that same span of games. Portland is also 24-8 SU and 21-11 ATS at Moda Center this season.
Pick: Blazers -3.5
Thunder are 10-25 ATS in their last 35 vs. NBA Northwest.
Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Thunder are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
Thunder are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Thunder are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Thunder are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Thunder are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
Thunder are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Thunder are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Thunder are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Thunder are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Thunder are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Trail Blazers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss.
Trail Blazers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Trail Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games playing on 1 days rest.
Trail Blazers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Trail Blazers are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
Trail Blazers are 38-16 ATS in their last 54 home games.
Trail Blazers are 39-19 ATS in their last 58 Thursday games.
Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Under is 4-0 in Thunder last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-0 in Thunder last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Thunder last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Thunder last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 5-1 in Thunder last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Thunder last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 20-8 in Thunder last 28 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 42-18 in Thunder last 60 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 46-20 in Thunder last 66 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 22-10 in Thunder last 32 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-0 in Trail Blazers last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Over is 8-0-1 in Trail Blazers last 9 home games.
Over is 4-0 in Trail Blazers last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-2-1 in Trail Blazers last 16 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 5-1 in Trail Blazers last 6 overall.
Over is 5-1 in Trail Blazers last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 14-4 in Trail Blazers last 18 vs. NBA Northwest.
Over is 6-2 in Trail Blazers last 8 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 12-4-1 in Trail Blazers last 17 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-4 in Trail Blazers last 14 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Portland.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Home team is 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
Thunder are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Portland.
