Golden State at Portland
Time: 9 PM ET, Mar 16, 2014
Spread: GSW -2
Total: 206
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Portland Trail Blazers are finally starting to cool off, but will need to return to playing good basketball to get a big win over a rival in the Golden State Warriors.
Portland has gone 5-5 over its past 10 contests and trails the Houston Rockets by a full game for the fifth seed in the West. Golden State lingers 2.5 games behind Portland but will be favorites in this matchup according to NBA oddsmakers at Bovada who set the line 2-points in favor of the visiting Warriors.
The Trail Blazers were able to win 111-103 over New Orleans on Friday night (Mar 14), behind 27 points from point guard Damian Lillard. Lillard is averaging 21.1 points and 5.6 assists per game this season and has paired with LaMarcus Aldridge to make Portland a surprising contender of sorts. But many analysts question whether Portland’s style of play can thrive in the postseason. Aldridge suffered a back contusion in Wednesday night’s game and is not going to play in this contest or the next, which is a big reason for the NBA odds favoring Golden State.
The Blazers rank 25th in points allowed per game (102.9), and while the team has no trouble outscoring opponents, averaging 107.3 points per game, the playoffs are a slower and more defensive style. Robin Lopez has helped to a large degree in anchoring that defense, and the Blazers rank 1st in the NBA in rebounds per game (46.4).
Golden State lost 103-94 to Cleveland Friday night, despite 27 points and eight assists from Stephen Curry. Curry started at point guard for the Western Conference All-Stars and is having a phenomenal season, with averages of 23.2 points and 8.6 assists per game.
The Warriors have improved its team defense dramatically this season and both Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala can put the clamps on perimeter scorers. Iguodala is nursing an injured knee but is expected to play, and Thompson will return to the lineup after having missed Friday’s game for his grandfather’s funeral.
Andrew Bogut’s role has shifted a lot in Golden State, as he’s no longer much of a scorer, but the former No. 1 overall draft pick is averaging 10.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game and helping to anchor a defense that is no longer as porous as it had been in year’s past. That’s Portland’s goal moving forward, too.
GSW Trends: UNDER 4-0 in last 4 road games vs a team with winning home record; UNDER 4-0 in last 4 road games; UNDER 9-1 in last 10 when opponent scores 100 or more in previous game.
POR Trends: 0-5 ATS in last 5 home games vs teams with winning road records; UNDER 9-1-1 in last 11 following SU win; UNDER 12-3-1 in last 16 home games.
Head-to-head: Warriors 5-1 ATS in last 6 meetings in Portland; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 meetings in Portland; Warriors 11-4 ATS in last 15 meetings.
