Opening Line: Thunder -1 / Blazers +1 O/U 191
Time: 10 PM EST Tuesday February 9, 2010 on NBA TV
Tonight in a Western Conference match up the Portland Trailblazers host the streaking Oklahoma City Thunder. Even though the Thunder have won 5 straight and are 7-3 in their last 10 games the Blazers have had their number lately, as they have lost 4 straight to Portland. The Blazers are coming off a loss and are only 4-6 in their last 10 games.
Both of these teams will be fighting it out to make the playoffs, as the Thunder currently are in the 7th position in the West and the Blazers are in the 8th position only ½ game back of Oklahoma City.
This season Portland is 18-10 at home and 28-23-1 ATS and Oklahoma City is 14-11 on the road and 31-19 ATS.
Both teams played on Sunday, but with different results, as Oklahoma City beat the Golden State Warriors 104-95 while Portland lost to the L.A. Lakers 99-82.
Injuries have really hampered the Blazers this season, as they not only lost both their center to season-ending knee injuries, but they will be without Leading scorer Brandon Roy (23.1 ppg), who will miss his 2nd straight game tonight with an injured hamstring.
Since Roy can't play tonight LeMarcus Aldridge (17.1 ppg) Andre Miller (13.2 ppg) and Roy's replacement Jerryd Bayless (9.5 ppg) will have to take up the scoring slack.
Coming into the season many thought Oklahoma City would be an up and coming team, but the future is now for the Young Thunder, who have a solid core with SF Kevin Durant (29.7 ppg), PG Russell Westbrook (16.2 ppg), and PF Jeff Green (14.4 ppg).
Durant has been on fire for the last month and a half, as he has scored at least 25 points in 24 straight games. However, he has not played well against the Blazers only averaging 14.8 ppg on 28.6% shooting in the 4-game losing streak to Portland.
Blazers' PG Andre Miller has to play good D and stay in front of Thunder PG Russell Westbrook, who has averaged 19.8 ppg, 9 assists, 6.4 rpg and 2.4 steals in the Thunder's 5 game winning streak.
Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite, and has an Under record of 7-1-1 in their last 9 games against teams with a winning record.
Portland is 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games against teams with a winning record, 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games against teams in the Northwest Division, and has an Over record of 7-3 in their last 10 games.
In this match up the Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in Portland and in 8 of the last 9 games between these 2 teams the total has gone Under.
Our Selection : Portland is 5-0 SU and 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 hosting Oklahoma City. We're going to buck the trend here and go with the Thunder who are on a 5 game winning streak and facing a Trail Blazers team that is short handed. Lay the small number. Take Oklahoma City -1
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Odds 6-12
The Mavs are up 3-2 in this series heading to South Beach and for the Heat to force Game 7 they will have to play better in the 4th quarter, especially LeBron James. 5Dimes has the hometown Heat as 5-point favorites in Game 6 with a total of 187.
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