San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, 12/13/12, 10:30 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: San Antonio -7
Current Betting Line: San Antonio -7
Opening Total: 202
Current Total: 201
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
San Antonio had its five-game win streak snapped in a 99-96 loss to the Utah Jazz as four-point road favorites last night, while going UNDER the total for the first time in three contests. The Spurs hit only 42.5 percent of their shots in Salt Lake City, which was far different than knocking down 52.5 percent of their attempts during their win streak. “It was disappointing down the stretch,” commented Spurs forward Tim Duncan. San Antonio is 4-0-1 ATS when playing on back-to-back days this season, which is important to note when making your NBA picks against the spread on Thursday.
The Spurs are 11-3 on the road this season, including a 5-2 mark versus Western Conference foes. San Antonio outlasted Portland in a 112-109 contest as 2.5-point road favorites on Nov. 10, while the last three meetings over the series have gone OVER the total. That victory snapped the franchise’s seven-game losing streak at the Rose Garden.
Portland picked up a solid 92-74 victory over the Toronto Raptors as 2.5-point home favorites Monday, while going UNDER the total for a second straight game. “It felt great to know we could be down a couple of players and still get the win,” commented Trail Blazers center JJ Hickson. The Trail Blazers could be without forward Nicolas Batum and guard Wesley Mathews, who are both listed as questionable after missing the team’s last game. Portland is 5-14 ATS when playing with two days rest, including 0-3-1 in that particular situation this year.
The Trail Blazers will be difficult to back as a home underdog on the pro basketball odds page if Batum is unable to go, as he scored a career-high 35 points in the last meeting in this series. Portland can still lean heavily on LaMarcus Aldridge, who scored 29 points and handed out seven assists in that game, while averaging 25.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in two series meetings last year. He is one of four NBA players this season with two games of 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Sports bettors will likely back the Spurs due to their 9-1 ATS record when playing against a team with a losing record, while the Trail Blazers are 0-2 ATS when facing teams that average 99 or more points per game.
Don’t miss out on a winning season and let the NBA handicappers at Maddux Sports line your pockets with cash. Long term packages are available now!
