Seattle +10.5 over PORTLAND
The Portland Trail Blazers hope to rediscover their winning ways when they host the slumping Seattle SuperSonics at the Rose Garden tonight. Portland has lost back-to-back games since a four-game winning streak. On Thursday, the Blazers lost to Boston, 100-92. Meanwhile, the SuperSonics have lost five games in a row after being manhandled in Sacramento last night, 110-81.
These teams have already met twice this season. The Blazers captured an 89-85 win in Seattle on November 21 before posting an 81-80 home victory on December 21. Portland is 0-4 ATS at home vs. opponents playing with revenge for a loss of 3 points or less. At home vs. opponents playing with "double revenge", the Blazers are 0-5 ATS, losing to the spread by 11 points a game. They have also struggled at home in Saturday games, going just 1-4 SU/0-5 ATS.
There is no question that Seattle is playing quite poorly; however, they should be able to keep this one respectable against a Portland crew in a funk of their own. As a road dog of 10+ points, Seattle is 4-1 ATS since the start of the 2000 season, while Portland is 4-9 ATS. While we do look for the Blazers to come away with the SU victory, they will likely get a good game from a very frustrated Sonics team.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: PORTLAND 97 SEATTLE 91