Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers
Tuesday, 3/27/12, 10:00 PM EST, TV: FGW
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma City -4.5
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma City -5
Opening Total: 198.5
Current Total: 198.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Oklahoma City has won three games in a row and put the rest of the NBA on notice when picking up a 103-87 blowout win over the Miami Heat as two-point home favorites on Sunday night. The Thunder are averaging 103.6 points per game this season, but have upped that number to 122.0 over the last three games by shooting a ridiculous 53.2 percent from the floor. Defensively, the team was outstanding down the streak, limiting the Heat to just 38 second-half points. Oklahoma City is 6-11 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Thunder have tallied an impressive 15-8 mark away from Chesapeake Energy Arena, which is actually the top road record in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City is led by All-Star forward Kevin Durant, who is coming off a 28-point performance, which is just above his season average of 27.9 points per game. Point guard Russell Westbrook figures to play a major role in the result of this game, scoring 78 combined points versus the Blazers in three meetings this year.
Portland has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, as it continues a three-game homestand after capturing a 90-87 win over the Golden State Warriors as 10-point favorites on Sunday. The Blazers are currently in 12th-place out west, but are 3-3 under interim head coach Kaleb Canales, who took over after the firing of Nate McMillan. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging a team-high 28.0 points per game in this series, which includes a season-high 39 points in a 111-107 overtime loss on Feb. 6. Portland is 6-12 ATS as an underdog and the “under” is 10-8 in that situation.
The Blazers are a dangerous team offensively when playing inside the Rose Garden, averaging 102.0 points per game, which is 5.3 more than what they average for the entire season. Portland didn’t exactly shoot the lights out in its last contest, but managed to pick up a victory despite hitting just 36.5 percent of its shots from the field. It served as its first win when shooting below 40 percent all season.
Bettors will likely back the Thunder due to the favorite being 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in this series, while the Trail Blazers are 3-7 ATS versus winning teams.
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