With the regular season winding down, two teams are in need of big road wins tonight. The Phoenix Suns need one over the LaMarcus Aldridge-inspired Blazers to bolster their fading playoff chances. Likewise, the Indiana Pacers are also desperate for a road win over the Raptors to salvage some kind of momentum heading into the postseason.
Read on for everything you need to know to bet these two great games in the NBA tonight.
Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trailblazers (10:00 PM ET)
Line: Phoenix Suns (+4.5) at Portland Trailblazers (-4.5); total 212.0 – view these lines
Betting on the Phoenix Suns
[sc:NBA240banner ]Losses to both Los Angeles teams have now dropped the Phoenix Suns out of the playoff picture. The Suns were surprisingly blown out 115-99 by the Lakers at Staples Center on Sunday, and then suffered a 4th quarter collapse in a 112-108 loss at home to the Clippers on Wednesday.
A big reason for the Suns’ losing skid has been their inaccuracy from beyond the arc. Phoenix shot a combined 16-64 (25%) from downtown in those two losses. Point guard Goran Dragic is also in a shooting slump, going just 8-27 (30%) from the field and 2-12 (17%) from three in his last two games. A trip to Portland may be just what the doctor ordered for Dragic, however. In three games against the ‘Blazers this season, Dragic is averaging close to 24 PPG on 52% shooting.
The Suns are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. the Blazers, and 3-0 ATS in their last three on the road. The under is 7-3 in their last the 10 games.
Betting on the Portland Trailblazers
The return of LaMarcus Aldridge has ignited Portland on a late-season surge. Since the return of their All-Star big man, the Blazers have gone 4-0 SU and ATS in their last four games.
Aldridge had a spectacular line of 31 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists in Portland’s 124-112 win over the Lakers on Tuesday. LMA is averaging over 22 points and 12 rebounds in his last four, and has scored 25 or more in three of those four games. The Blazers are also shooting a blistering 43% from three in their last three games.
Portland returns home after a road-heavy end to March. The Blazers are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five home games. They’re also 5-1 SU in their last six at home vs. the Suns.
Prediction
The Suns’ playoff hopes may slowly be setting, but as they’ve shown all year, they won’t go without a fight. Aldridge and the Blazers will prevail, but the pesky Suns should cover +4.5 a closely-contested game.
Indiana Pacers vs. Toronto Raptors (7:00 PM ET)
Line: Indiana Pacers (+1) at Toronto Raptors (-1); total 180.5 – view these lines
Betting on the Indiana Pacers
If the Indiana Pacers end up losing the no. 1 seed in the East, then their road record will be to blame. The Pacers are an abysmal 0-5 SU and ATS in their last five road games. The totals for all five of those games have also gone under.
Indiana beat the hapless Pistons 101-94 at home on Wednesday to snap a three-game skid. The Pacers shot 49% from the field after six straight sub-40% shooting games. Paul George had 27 points on 9-19 shooting for his best shooting game since the Pacers last game against the Pistons.
The Pacers have struggled in their visits to Canada, going 4-1 SU in their last five in Toronto.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors
The Kyle Lowry-less Raptors defeated the Dwight Howard-less Rockets 107-103 at home on Wednesday to clinch their first playoff berth since 2008. The Raptors are now 4-1 SU in their last five games.
DeMar DeRozan led the charge with 29 points and went 10-19 from the field. The Raptors are 5-1 SU when their All-Star guard scores 20 or more points. With Lowry still questionable to play against the Pacers, back-up Greivis Vasquez (15 PPG in the last five games he’s played over 20 minutes) will man the point for the Raptors.
The Raptors are 7-3 SU and ATS in their last 10 home games.
Prediction
The Raptors are a legitimate playoff team and the Pacers are in legitimate trouble, especially on the road. The Raptors win and cover at home, sending the Pacers into further turmoil.
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