The Portland Trail Blazers play the final leg of their four-game road swing when they make a stop at the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets. The two teams met four times last season with the Rockets winning each game and they are a 3.5-point favorite tonight with the total Sportsbook at 224.5.
- The total has gone OVER in seven of the Trail Blazers’ last eight games (avg. combined score: 233.63).
- The Rockets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games.
- The total has gone OVER in 21 of the Trail Blazers’ last 27 games vs the Rockets (avg. combined score: 220.52).
Trail Blazers vs Rockets Game Center
Houston looks to end its losing slide
The Rockets have been in a downward spiral since sparking a fight with the Los Angeles Lakers on October 20, dropping their last three games, and will be without all-star point guard James Harden for tonight’s contest. Two of those three losses came in front of their home crowd, including a 133-113 beatdown from the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday. Defensively, it has been a disaster on the court for Houston, which is allowing an average of 118.8 points per game, the fifth-most in the league.
Offensively, the Rockets live and die by the three-pointer. They average 41.2 three-point attempts per game, which is the most in the NBA, and they hit the second-most shots beyond the arc at 14.6 per game. This may look a little differently tonight without Harden in the lineup as he averages 8.5 three-point attempts a game, which is the sixth-most in the league.
Houston has a big issue in its frontcourt, averaging just 40.6 rebounds per game, which is the third-fewest in the league, while also surrendering the most points in the paint per game in the NBA at 61.6.
Portland aims to end road trip on a high note
The Trail Blazers close down their four-game road trip holding a 2-1 record through the first three games and are coming off a 103-93 win over Indiana last night. Portland did a good job of getting up for the second game of a back-to-back set last season, sporting a 10-5 record in those contests. This is just the third game against a Western Conference foe on the year and the Blazers are 2-0 through the first two opportunities, both at home, topping the Lakers in their season opener 128-119 and following that up with a win over the Spurs 121-108.
Look for the Trail Blazers to go to work under the rim and attack that weak frontcourt of the Rockets, as Portland is securing an average of 51 boards a game, which is the fourth-most in the league, though it is only scoring 45.7 points in the paint per game. However, Portland will have to protect the perimeter as it’s allowing opponents to hit 36.8 percent of their three-point attempts, which is the ninth-highest percentage in the league. That’s a dangerous game to play with Houston.
OVER trending in tonight’s game
Portland and Houston went OVER in three of the four games in their season series last year with an average combined score of 222.5 and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 224.5. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers have gone OVER in five of their six games this season, having gone UNDER in just last night’s game, and have an average combined score of 232.33.
Additionally, the Rockets have gone OVER in four of their five games this year with an average combined score of 228.8. Lastly, both teams rank in the bottom third of the league in points allowed per game with Houston surrendering 118.8 ppg, which is the fifth-most in the league, while Portland allows 117.2 ppg, which is the 10th-most.
My Take on Portland vs Houston
I like the OVER 224.5 for tonight’s contest at the Toyota Center between Portland and Houston. Both teams like to let the rock fly while also not protecting their own nets as they rank in the bottom portion of the league for points allowed. Additionally, both teams have been OVER machines this season with the Trail Blazers going OVER in every game except last night’s, while the Rockets have gone OVER in four of their five games. Their only UNDER came in their game against Utah, which surrenders the seventh-fewest points per game in the league.
