It’s less than a week since the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs last met, but it’s going to be a very different atmosphere for both teams when they take the court again this coming Friday. For one, the Spurs’ Big Three—or at least two of them—are going to play in this game, unlike last Monday when they were all absent in their loss to Portland. Will the Blazers extend their win streak? Or will the Spurs avoid losing three-straight games?
Also happening on Friday is a high-profile matchup between the Nets and the Cavaliers. You can read a complete preview of that game here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Preview
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
When: Friday, December 19, 2014, 8:00PM ET
Line: Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs– view all NBA lines
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
It was still the same dose of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard for the streaking Trail Blazers.
Behind the one-two punch combination of Aldridge and Lillard, Portland notched their third-straight win Wednesday night, beating the Milwaukee Bucks at home 104-97. Aldridge finished the game with a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Lillard had game-highs of 29 points and seven assists. Together, the duo is averaging 45.4 PPG over the last three games.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Expect Aldridge and Lillard to lead Portland again on offense against the Spurs, just as they did when the Blazers won 108-95 in the two teams’ first meeting last Monday. In that game, Aldridge and Lillard scattered 23 points apiece. The bench, meanwhile, played solid too with Chris Kaman scoring 11 of Blazers relievers’ 37 points. Kaman is averaging 9.0 PPG and 4.0 RPG in the Blazers’ current win streak.
The Blazers are the best rebounding team in the league with 46.6 RPG, which explains why opponents only score 14.9 second-chance points per game—sixth fewest in the NBA. Robin Lopez (7.2 RPG), the team’s second-best rebounder behind Aldridge (10.4 RPG), however, will not suit up against the Spurs because of a hand injury. That leaves Thomas Robinson to be Lopez’s substitute in the starting lineup. Robinson did great in the Milwaukee game, posting 15 points and 16 rebounds.
The Blazers are 8-2 in their last 10 road games.
Create a betting account now and lay a bet or two in this game once odds and lines are available.
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs don’t always lose at home against the Memphis Grizzlies. In fact, their 117-116 triple overtime loss on Wednesday was their first at home versus Memphis since 2011.
With its home domination of Memphis over, San Antonio will now look to avoid another one of their streaks from being snapped—this time against the Blazers, whom the Spurs have beaten in all of their last four meetings in AT&T Center.
When the Spurs lost to Portland last Monday, they did so without the services of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, who all sat out because of various reasons. Duncan and Ginobili, however, are likely to suit up on Friday.
Duncan scored 25 points and collected 16 rebounds against Memphis. He’ll be a big asset for the Spurs, including in the defensive end, where he’ll have his hands full guarding Aldridge. Duncan is averaging 15.9 PPG and 11.0 RPG this season. Ginobili (12.7 PPG) scored 21 points coming off the bench against Memphis after missing the Portland game because of a back ailment.
Parker, meanwhile, is listed as questionable for Friday’s ball game. Parker (hamstring) has played just once over the Spurs’ last seven games. If he’s unable to play against Portland, then expect Cory Joseph to be the starting point guard. Joseph has been steady lately, averaging 11.9 PPG and 3.6 APG over San Antonio’s last seven games.
The Spurs are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games against Portland.
Writer’s Prediction
San Antonio wins, 104-101.
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