Friday NBA Betting – OKC Thunder vs Portland Trailblazers
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Friday April 1, 2011 – 10:00 PM ET
Venue: Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Broadcast: FSOKHD
Betting Lines From Betonline.com:
Money Line:
Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -2.5
Over/Under: 190.5
Go Inside This Matchup With Our NBA ATS Stats —>
Bet now at BetOnline.com
While the NCAA national title tournament has reached the Final Four, the real March Madness run was in the NBA, where the Oklahoma City Thunder played the best single month in franchise history. The Thunder cooled down the Phoenix Suns 116-98 on Wednesday night to finish the month with a 14-2 record, which includes their current five-game winning streak that has pulled them to within three games of the Dallas Mavericks for third in the Western conference standings. Kevin Durant and company will look to continue their run against a talented Portland Trail Blazers’ team that has struggled with mediocrity over the past couple of weeks, as well as against the Thunder this season.
Another Oklahoma City win would mean a sweep of the season series, something that the franchise has not accomplished since 1997-98. The Thunder dismantled Portland 99-90 this past Sunday, but the initial two matchups between these teams were decided by a combined three points. Durant and Russell Westbrook have been the key difference makers in the season series. Those two combined for 70 points in a close win in mid-November. They’ll need to be at their best again when they take on a Trail Blazers’ team that has been much better at home than on the road this year, especially with LaMarcus Aldridge and his teammates looking to improve their postseason position.
The Trail Blazers will look to capitalize on a stretch that will include five of its final seven games at the Rose Garden, where they have won 26 of a possible 36 games this year, including their current six-game winning streak. Portland is tied with the New Orleans Hornets for sixth spot in the conference, just one game ahead of the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies.
If the season ended today the Trail Blazers would open the playoffs against the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, something the team will undoubtedly look to avoid. While there is a sense of urgency in Portland, there may be a bit of complacency with the Thunder after they improved their division lead to five games ahead of the Denver Nuggets. They’ll let their foot off the gas a little bit against a determined Trail Blazers’ team that will move one step closer to clinching a spot in the elite eight.
NBA Gambling Trends:
OKC are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
Under is 8-3 in OKC last 11 overall.
Over is 10-4 in OKC last 14 vs. NBA Northwest.
Over is 8-3 in POR last 11 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings.
OKC are 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
Pick: Portland Trail Blazers +2.5
