Damian Lillard, James Harden and Eric Gordon are three of the seven NBA players to score 50 points in a game this year. They might all share the court Wednesday if Harden returns from a thigh injury that has sidelined him for the Rockets’ last two games. The OVER has hit in 11 of Houston’s last 15 trips to Portland.
- Date/Time: January 29, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Moda Center
- TV Coverage: ESPN, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBC Sports Northwest, NBA TV Canada
- Sportsbook Odds: Rockets -2.5 / O/U 235.5
- Rockets vs Trail Blazers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Oddsmakers delayed posting a line while awaiting news on Harden’s status. The Trail Blazers were 8.5-point underdogs when they beat the Rockets 118-107 two weeks ago in Houston. Portland has won the last four meetings at Moda Center, but is just 2-4 ATS in the last six.
Houston News & Notes
Having lost five of their last seven games and without league scoring leader James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela on the second night of a back-to-back, things looked bleak for the Rockets when they took to the court Monday in Utah. But after handing the Jazz just their third loss in their last 22 games, Houston should be in a much better frame of mind as it closes out a four-game road trip against the Blazers.
Especially Eric Gordon, who exploded for a career-best 50 points in the 126-117 win over the Jazz. Gordon hit 14 of his 22 shots from the field, was 6-for-11 from behind the three-point line and added 16 more points from the free-throw line. Danuel House and Austin Rivers also stepped up with 21-point efforts to key the Rockets’ upset as 14-point underdogs, improving Houston to 2-6 ATS in its last eight on the road.
Harden’s status likely won’t be known until Wednesday afternoon as he deals with a thigh injury that has forced him out of Houston’s last two games. However, Westbrook should be back in the Rockets lineup after sitting out Monday to rest and seeks his 21st consecutive outing with at least 20 points. Capela (right heel) could also return after being upgraded to questionable on Tuesday.
Portland News & Notes
The Blazers have covered just two of their last nine games, but it’s no fault of Damian Lillard’s. Portland’s star guard is the hottest scorer in the league these days, collecting 158 points over his last three outings. Lillard was 14-for-23 from the field Sunday in a 50-point effort that paced the Blazers to a 139-129 win over Indiana. Lillard’s been lethal from every area of the court during his hot streak, hitting 37 of 39 from the free-throw line and 27 of 47 from behind the arc over his last three games.
C.J. McCollum’s return after missing three games with an ankle injury also played a factor in Portland’s season-high scoring output on Sunday as the shooting guard chipped in with 28 points.
The Trail Blazers enjoy a significant rest advantage over the Rockets, not having played since Sunday while Houston is playing its third game in four days. However, extra time off hasn’t brought out the Blazers’ best recently. Portland is just 2-7-1 ATS and 4-6 SU in its last 10 home games on two days’ rest.
Then again, it’s hard to find an ATS stat that flatters Portland these days. The Trail Blazers are 7-14-1 ATS this year at home, 17-28-2 overall, and 8-18 against the number in their last 26 following a victory.
Betting Pick: OVER 235.5
The Trail Blazers have gone OVER the total in five straight games, failing to hold a single opponent under 119 points during that stretch.
- The Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- The Trail Blazers are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of the Rockets’ last 15 games at Portland.
