With LaMarcus Aldridge putting up yet another herculean effort, the Portland Trail Blazers took a step closer into eliminating the Houston Rockets. Can Kevin McHale’s squad make the proper adjustments and notch its first postseason victory?
[sc:NBAArticles ]Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets Round 1, Game 3 Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – April 20, Portland 122, Houston 120 (OT)
Game 2 – April 23, Portland 112, Houston, 105
Game 3 – April 25, 10:30PM ET, Houston (+3) at Portland (-3); total 216.0 – view all NBA lines
Game 4 – April 27, 9:30PM ET, Houston at Portland
Game 5 (if necessary) – April 30, Portland at Houston
Game 6 (if necessary) – May 2, Houston at Portland
Game 7 (if necessary) – May 4, Portland at Houston
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
In Game 2 of this highly-anticipated series, LaMarcus Aldridge once again made a mockery of Houston’s defense, putting up 43 points en route to a 112-105 Trail Blazers victory on Wednesday night.
Now clutching a 2-0 series lead, the Blazers look to push Houston to the edge when they travel back to Rip City for Game 3. The Blazers are 8-1 SU at home this month and are 4-1 ATS in their last five contests at Moda Center.
Dumping the ball to Aldridge and letting him takeover has seemingly been the key for the Blazers in the series thus far. Aldridge has shot 35-29 (53.2%) in the first two games to the tune of a ridiculous 89 points in two games. However, in the second game, Aldridge got some help from the bench. If guys like Dorell Wright and Mo Williams can stay consistent with their scoring, Portland will roll past Houston faster than anyone expected.
Portland was last in the league in bench scoring (12.3 PPG) during the regular season but in Game 2 the pair of Wright and Williams combined for 28 of the Blazers’ 30 bench points.
Betting on the Houston Rockets
In Game 2, Dwight Howard tried to go a mano-a-mano with Aldridge but could only do so for one half. Howard poured in 25 of his 32 points in the first half before falling silent in the second because of foul trouble.
The Rockets must forget what happened in the first two games and play better team basketball in Game 3.
With their defense looking helpless in Game 2, the Rockets compounded their situation even more by playing selfish basketball, especially down the stretch of the fourth quarter when they badly needed to make a run. They only made three assists in the decisive period, while the Blazers had seven.
Moreover, James Harden needs to show up in Game 3, or at least find himself some better shots. Although he scored 18 in Game 2, he managed it on 6-19 shooting, and has shot a horrendous 14-47 (29.7%) clip from the floor in two games.
The Rockets look to find their rhythm on the road in Game 3. They are 5-2 SU and 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven trips to Portland.
Writer’s Prediction
James Harden can’t be this silent for three games in a row. Expect him to have a better outing in Game 3 while helping his Rockets return the favor to Portland. Houston should comfortably cover +3 but would offer more value on the money line at +130.
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