Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, 11/4/10, 10:30 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Portland -4.5
Current Betting Line: Portland -5
Opening Total: 191.5
Current Total: 193
Oklahoma City has dropped two straight games after falling to the Los Angeles Clippers, 107-92, at the Staples Center on Wednesday night. The Thunder struggled to shooting just 39.3 percent form the field and star forward Kevin Durant was even worse in connecting on 6 of 24 shots. “I’m the leader of this team,” Durant commented. “We’ve got to figure this out. Two games in a row, teams just did whatever they want to us.” The club better step up its play with the schedule getting more difficult in the next couple weeks, as the team will be playing seven of eight against playoff-caliber teams. “We’ve got to worry about ourselves,” the All-Star forward stated. “That Utah game, our energy wasn’t there at all.” The team is 1-3 ATS this season and 96-76 ATS against the number the last three years. The NBA odds page has them getting five points on the road.
The Thunder finishes off its first back-to-back of the season tonight after posting a 9-9 record on the first night and 8-10 mark on the following night in 2009-10. Durant will have to carry the offense tonight and has averaged 30.7 points in his last three games against the Blazers. Oklahoma City managed just one victory in last season’s series, a 89-77 win at the Rose Garden over a Portland team playing without Roy. They were also fortunate to play the Blazers without Roy in a April 12 rematch, but was handed a 103-95 defeat. Playing away from home wasn’t a difficult task for this team during last year, posting a 23-18 record, which exceeded the combined road win total for the prior two seasons (15).
Portland accomplished its task of a winning road trip and now returns home to face a stiff challenge. The Trail Blazers captured three of four games on the trip that ended with a 90-76 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. “A very good road trip for us,” said head coach Nate McMillan. He knows his team must continue to improve if its going to challenge in the Western Conference and tonight’s game is certainly an early measuring stick. “We have to keep improving,” he commented. “The Thunder are going to be ready for us.” Portland captured last year’s series, 3-1, for the second straight season. Three of the four meetings were decided by single digits. The club is 49-39 ATS at home over the last three campaigns.
The Trail Blazers were successful defending the Thunder’s main stars, Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook in 2009-10. Portland held Durant to 36.1 percent shooting and 3.1 points below his season average, while forcing Westbrook into 5.3 turnovers per game. The team was incredibly efficient with the basketball last season in this matchup, committing seven fewer turnovers than Oklahoma City (65-58). Defensively, the team has held opponents to 95 points or less in four of five games in the early going.
Bettors will find that the Thunder are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a road underdog of 5.0 to 10.5 points, while the Blazers are 9-8 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points.
There’s plenty of exciting games ahead and the NBA handicappers at Maddux Sports are ready to deliver plenty of winning selections. After last nights 4-1 day, they are currently riding an 11-1 NBA pick run for their clients. Dont miss one more winner from the experts.
