New Orleans at Portland – Game 2
Time: 9:30 PM CT (TNT)
Spread: POR -6
Total: 214

Odds c/o 5dimes

Is this the postseason of Anthony Davis? Or Damian Lillard? The two stars are both coming of age in a great battle in the Western Conference, and both are hungry to get to the second round of the postseason, uncharted territory for two of the best at their respective positions. Davis got the best of Lillard’s Blazers in Game 1 as the Pelicans stole one on the road with a 97-95 victory. New Orleans will look to sneak a 2-0 edge away from New Orleans with a victory tonight, but Portland enters as 6-point favorites according to NBA oddsmakers at 5dimes.

Davis did nothing short of amaze in Game 1. New Orleans lost his running-mate DeMarcus Cousins mid-season to a terrible Achilles injury, but all it has done is make Davis step up that much more. He dialed up 35 points on 26 field goal attempts while snagging 14 boards, swatting four shots, coming up with a pair of steals and playing 41 total minutes. Jrue Holiday continued his impressive play and is fully looking like the All-Star he was once as a member of the 76ers; credit him for 21 points on 10 of 20 shooting with seven boards and two blocks. He plays so much bigger than 6’4” and his defense will prove crucial in every game, and round, that New Orleans can manage to see.

Is that to say the Pelicans are now the favorite for this series? Hardly. The Blazers still can rely on Lillard and McCollum to produce at a high volume. Though they combined to shoot just 13 of 41 in Game 1, both were aggressive in getting their looks and play well in Portland. It is no accident that 5dimes favors the Portland Trail Blazers, that is to say. While my personal knock on Portland throughout the season has been a lack of depth, the Blazers did get 27 points from its reserves and Ed Davis was huge in adding 13 boards, five of which came on the offensive end. The veteran is a high-energy offensive player, but his rebounding ended up helping the Blazers hold a +3 advantage on the glass in Game 1.

While Davis and company sure handled Game 1, but playoffs are about adjustments and Portland is a strong team on its home court. Expect Lillard, in particular, to respond to an off-game in the opener and come out hot early in the game as Portland tries to rally to a better start in the second game. Portland prevails, but fails to cover the 6-point spread in another game that comes down to the wire in the same type of fashion Game 1 did.

ATS TRENDS