Thunder vs. Blazers Prediction
Will the Portland Trail Blazers be able to get back to the .500 mark at home when the Blazers play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at 9PM ET?
551 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 552 Portland Trail Blazers
Sunday, December 8, 2010
9PM ET – Moda Center
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Portland is the slight favorite at home, as the Blazers are getting odds of -3 points against the Thunder. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 223 points. The public betting currently has 75 percent going on the Blazers as the home favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Thunder trying to heat up
Oklahoma City is coming off a 139-127 OT win at home over Minnesota. The Thunder have won and covered the spread in three of their last four games. OKC is 9-12 on the season, 2-7 on the road, 13-8 against the spread and 12-9 with the under.
The Thunder have struggled to score at times, averaging just 108.6 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent as a team. Defensively, OKC is giving up 109.1 points per game while opponents shoot 45.9 percent against them. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari are each putting up 18.6 points per game. SGA is also averaging 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Chris Paul is putting up 15.8 points and 6 assists per game.
Blazers beat up by Lakers
Portland was soundly beaten at home on Friday night against the Lakers, losing 136-113. The Blazers have dropped two of their last three and have failed to cover in three of their last four games. Portland is now 9-14 on the year, 4-5 at home, 10-12-1 against the spread and 13-10 with the over.
The Blazers are solid on offense, but giving up 115.7 points per game on defense this year. Offensively, Portland is putting up 113.4 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent as a squad. Damian Lillard is leading the Blazers this season with 26.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. CJ McCollum is adding 22.1 points per game while Hassan Whiteside is putting up 15.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per outing.
NBA Betting Trends
Oklahoma City
The Thunder are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games as an underdog, but just 4-11 ATS in their last 15 Sunday games.
Portland
The Blazers are 4-9-2 ATS in their last 15 home games, but 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games following a double-digit loss at home.
Prediction:
The Blazers won the last meeting with OKC at home, 136-119 on Nov. 27. The Blazers have won four straight and six of their last seven against the Thunder dating back to last season. That includes two games this year. The Blazers have been able to beat the Thunder with both offense and defense. While Portland hasn’t been able to get on track this year, their recent shortcomings have largely been against the elite teams int eh league like the Lakers, Clippers and Bucks. Portland has done a better job of taking care of business against the lesser teams. OKC is in that category.
NBA Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers -3