Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls
Thursday, 3/21/13, 8:00 PM EST, TV: CSNW
Opening Point Spread: Chicago -5
Current Betting Line: Chicago -5
Opening Total: 188
Current Total: 188.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Portland has dropped back-to-back games, including a 102-95 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks as 5.5-point road underdogs Tuesday night, while going UNDER the total for the first time in five contests. The Trail Blazers are now 9-25 overall on the road this season, as they were unable to complete a rally after being down 27 points. “We just put our heads down and we fought,” commented Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews. The team has scored 100 or more points in nine of its last 10 games against Chicago, which is important to consider when looking over the total on the pro basketball odds page. Portland is 2-8 SUATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 6 points this season.
The Trail Blazers have won three of their last five road games against the Bulls, as they’ve been led by the play of forward LaMarcus Aldridge, as he has averaged 20.8 points in his career in this series. He has recorded five consecutive games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds—tying a career high.
Chicago has dropped three of its last four games, including a 119-118 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets as 3.5-point home underdogs Monday night, while going OVER the total for a third consecutive contest. “We felt like we got it stolen from us,” commented Bulls forward Carlos Boozer. He ranks tenth in the NBA and fifth in the Eastern Conference with 31 double-doubles during the 2012-13 campaign. Chicago is 4-12 ATS when playing with two days rest.
The Bulls are 18-15 overall at the United Center, including a 6-8 mark versus Western Conference opponents. Chicago hasn’t won a season series versus Portland since the 2006-07 campaign, which is important to note when making your NBA expert picks Thursday night. Center Joakim Noah has been the most consistent player on the roster over the past nine games, as he’s averaged 14.3 points and 13.1 rebounds in that span.
Sports bettors will likely back the Trail Blazers due to their 6-2 ATS mark in the last eight meetings in this series, while the Bulls are 5-12 ATS versus teams with a losing record.
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