Oklahoma City at Portland
Time: 10 PM ET, Feb 11, 2014
TV: NBA TV
Spread: POR -1
Total: 211
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 41-12 and hold a 3.5 game lead over San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference. The Thunder are 18-9 on the road this season and will travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers in a game NBA oddsmakers at Bovada are favoring the Blazers by one point.
Portland has been a surprise team this season, but at this point most are deeming the Blazers true contenders. The Blazers sit third in the West at 36-15 and are 19-5 at home this season. Portland ranks 1st in the NBA in scoring (108 points per game), but its defense has been mediocre at best, allowing 103.5 points per game (27th in NBA).
The Blazers dynamic duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard will appear in the All-Star game this weekend. Aldridge has out-performed starter Blake Griffin, averaging 24.1 points and 11.5 rebounds this season. Lillard has taken another step forward in his sophomore campaign and is averaging 20.8 points and 5.7 assists per game.
The Blazers have a solid starting five, rounding it out with Wes Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez; but the bench is suspect. The Blazers got 1st round pick C.J. McCollum in the fold and he’s averaged 6.1 points per game in his first 15 pro games. The bar is set high for the mid-major prospect after what Lillard did last season, but he should be able to solidify the backcourt rotation some.
The Thunder have been sensational without starting point guard Russell Westbrook. Reggie Jackson has done a great job filling in, but the real story has been just how good Kevin Durant has been. The do-it-all forward is averaging 31.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Durant is making a strong case for the MVP award, and the Thunder have won eight of its past 10 games. Durant’s PER of 31.1 is higher than LeBron James by over 2.00. The real issue may be reintegrating Westbrook when he returns and trying to keep Durant’s shot count up.
OKC Trends: 4-0 ATS in last 4 vs teams with a winning percentage above .600; 7-0 ATS in last 7 vs teams with home winning percentages above .600; 7-1 ATS in last 8 when opponent allows 100 or more in previous game.
POR Trends:: 1-11 ATS in last 12 Tuesday games; UNDER 6-1-1 in last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in previous game; OVER 5-1 in last 6 vs teams with road winning percentages above .600.
Head-to-head: UNDER 6-1 in last 7 meetings; Thunder 7-2-1 ATS in last 10 meetings; Thunder 3-1-1 ATS in last 5 in Portland.
