NBA Betting? Trail Blazers vs Rockets Predictions
NBA betting action sees the Portland Trail Blazers hosting the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, March 11 at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore. Cappers Picks offers free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
NBA Basketball Odds
Houston Rockets (43-20) @ Portland Trail Blazers (41-20)
Wednesday, March 11
10:30 p.m. ET
Moda Center
TV: ESPN
NBA Betting Lines: Portland -2.5
NBA Betting Total: 207
***2015 NBA BONUSES***
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]Click here to view… NBA ATS Stats & Expert NBA Betting Insight!
Rockets
Houston has arguably the favorite for MVP this season on its roster in James Harden.
[dfads params=’groups=63742&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Steph Curry and LeBron James are making names for themselves (along with Russell Westbrook), but considering what this team’s expectations were — especially since the injury-riddled season of Dwight Howard came to fruition — the 2-guard is leading the pack at this point in the process.
Luckily for Harden and the Rockets, the guard’s kryptonite is out of the line. That, of course, being Wesley Matthews. The Trail Blazers shooting guard is out for the year, which is great news for a team that saw the “Ironman” shut down Harden in the playoffs — at least in terms of shooting percentage — this past postseason.
[dfads params=’groups=66501&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Against Portland, the goal, of course, is to shut down Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. But if they’re going with the mentality that “stars will get theirs,” it becomes players such as Arron Afflalo and Nicolas Batum that this team needs to defend.
Although Howard is out for this one, the Rockets are going up against a Blazers team that struggled against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their last outing. That’s a great sign for Clutch City, as Minnesota is the worst team in the Western Conference at this point in the process.
Blazers
Portland needs to find its identity with Matthews on the bench. Is it going to remain a threat from the three-point line as consistently as it has this season? Will it remain a surprisingly efficient team on defense?
Against the Rockets? Well, consider this a trial run for Afflalo. The former Denver Nugget will find a way to be productive, but he won’t be the kind of player who puts Portland over the edge.
[dfads params=’groups=63741&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Expect a nice game from both teams, but in the early stages of the post-Matthews era, expect this one to be Harden’s game to lose when it counts most.
NBA Handicapping Trends:
- Under is 9-3-1 in Trail Blazers last 13 games as a home favorite.
- Under is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 Wednesday games.
- Trail Blazers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a S.U. loss.
- Trail Blazers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
- Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. win.
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
- Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
4* NBA Prediction: Houston +2.5
The numbers are in, and recent trends favor the Rockets ATS.
Portland could squeak out a tight win, but odds are: Houston keeps this one tight throughout or comes away with a win on the road.
Either way…
Pick Houston ATS
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
[dfads params=’groups=63706&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
