Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers
Tuesday, 1/10/12, 10:00 PM EST, TV: FSPT
Opening Point Spread: Portland -4.5
Current Betting Line: Portland -5.5
Opening Total: 194
Current Total: 196
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Los Angeles ended its four-game homestand with a 3-1 record and will now play just a single road game before returning to the Staples Center to take on the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. The Clippers have won three games in a row and limited the Milwaukee Bucks to 36.3 percent shooting in a 92-86 victory as 10-point home favorites on Saturday. Defense has been the name of the game during the club’s streak, holding all three opponents under 90 points. Los Angeles is 5-15 ATS after three or more consecutive ‘unders’ over the past two-plus seasons.
The Clippers tallied a 93-88 win over the Trail Blazers in their first meeting this year as three-point home favorites on Jan. 1. Los Angeles power forward Blake Griffin is currently one of just two players in the NBA averaging over 24.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, with the other being Minnesota’s Kevin Love. Newly acquired point guard Chris Paul is averaging 15.2 points and 9.3 assists per game, but he scored a season-low nine last time out. “I never go into a game saying I’m going to get 15 or 20 points,” he stated after the game.
Portland will be looking for revenge against tonight’s opponent after tallying a perfect 3-0 record in the season series a year ago. The Trail Blazers have defeated the Clippers in five straight inside the Rose Garden. “I think it’s a game we feel we gave away,” stated Trail Blazers forward Gerald Wallace about the loss in Los Angeles. The 36 points scored by the team in the fourth quarter in that contest is the highest total recorded in a single quarter by Portland this season. Over the last two-plus seasons, the franchise is 8-16 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points.
The Trail Blazers outscored the Clippers by an average margin of 12.3 points in the three games a year ago, while holding a 135-123 advantage on the glass. Wesley Matthews is the player to watch on the offensive end, averaging 19.3 points in three games versus the Clippers during the 2011-12 campaign. Portland is one of three teams in the Western Conference to have six players average double-figures in scoring.
Bettors will likely back the Trail Blazers due to the home team covering six of the last seven meetings, while the Clippers are 7-15 ATS as a road underdog.
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