NBA Betting? Blazers vs Thunder Predictions
NBA betting action sees the Portland Trail Blazers taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Dec. 123 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. Cappers Picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
2014 NBA Picks
Portland (22-7) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (13-15)
Tuesday, Dec. 23
8:00 p.m. ET
Chesapeake Energy Arena
TV: Local
NBA Betting Lines: OFF as of 9:15amET
NBA Betting Total: OFF as of 9:15amET
***2014 NBA BONUSES***
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Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have only lost two games in a row twice this season. Unfortunately, they’re in a situation where they could hit the triple mark in that category.
Portland is coming off a brutal beatdown against the Houston Rockets. Despite entering the game as the second-best team in terms of points allowed, the Blazers gave up 110 to the high-octane, offense-oriented Rockets.
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Against OKC, Portland will be facing off against a team that is No. 1 in that same category. Offense has been a struggle when Russell Westbrook and/or Kevin Durant have sat, but defense has been where this team has excelled.
The variable for Portland in this one is: Will LaMarcus Aldridge play? He sat against Houston with an upper respiratory illness, and with Robin Lopez out for the foreseeable future, a lack of starting-caliber big men has put a damper on the hot start we’ve otherwise seen from this group.
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Oklahoma City Thunder
Aldridge’s absence is a problem for Portland, but at least the team has a well-rounded group of players who can make up the scoring difference. After all, the team entered its contest against Houston seventh in the league in scoring for a reason.
OKC, on the other hand, might be without Durant yet again, which is a huge problem for a group that is just 21st in terms of points per game.
With the game less than 24 hours from tip off, Durant is listed as day-to-day. ESPN’s Chris Broussard has stated that last year’s MVP might play against the Blazers, but this is a big difference maker when it comes to where your money lies in this one.
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NBA Handicapping Trends:
* Under is 12-4-1 in POR last 17 vs. NBA Northwest.
* POR are 8-21 ATS in their last 29 Tue. games.
* Under is 15-3 in OKC last 18 home games.
* Under is 16-5 in OKC last 21 Tue. games.
* Under is 27-10 in OKC last 37 overall.
* POR are 3-8-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Under is 21-8 in the last 29 meetings.
4* NBA Prediction: Portland 99 – Oklahoma City 103
When thinking about this contest, keep a close eye on who will be playing. If Durant is in and Aldridge is out, pick OKC straight up and against the spread. Durant had to watch as Portland took down the Thunder at the stat of the year, and this is a golden opportunity for revenge.
Then again, if Aldridge is in but Durant is out, look for the Blazers to come away with a close win. The team proved it can do it once, and despite the absence of big man Lopez, there’s no reason to believe we’ll see things go differently.
Where things get interesting is if Durant and Aldridge both play, or conversely, if the two former Texas Longhorns sit. If the two sit, give this one to Portland both SU and ATS.
However, if the two play, give this one to the Thunder in a closely contested matchup.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
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