Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Point Spread Picks

It's the second meeting in three days, after Portland topped Houston, 103-102, in a photo finish. The Rockets are fourth in the NBA in field goal shooting (48.5%) and in 3-point shooting (38.2%), but had an uncharacteristically poor shooting night at 37% from the field and 22% from long range (8-of-36). Houston lost despite a whopping 57-38 rebounding edge, including 24-6 on the offensive glass. Houston has a +8.2 scoring differential, the second-best in the NBA after Oklahoma City. While Houston ranks third in the league in points allowed, Portland ranks 23rd and 20th in shooting allowed. The Blazers are getting outscored on the season. Look for a strong bounce-back by the better team, with the value on the visitors to win the game. Play Houston on the moneyline. 

The Portland Trail Blazers are slowly improving. Portland has won three straight games, and if the season ended today, they would be the 9th seed in the play-in round. Donovan Clingan has begun to pay dividends for Portland, but tonight is a huge challenge as the team hosts Houston. The Rockets are 22-11 and currently just 1.5 games behind San Antonio for the #2 seed in the NBA West. Portland has struggled at home against winning teams (over .500), going just 4-7 SU against them. Houston is playing well, having won five of their last six. I like Houston on the moneyline. 

Houston has won and covered four of five meetings, and the Rockets have won five of their past six games, although their five-game win streak was snapped in a 132-127 loss at Sacramento on Thursday night. It was understandable, as the Rockets had to play in Denver the night before when they beat the Nuggets 128-108. Houston is 5-0-1 ATS its past six road games, and it has covered four straight as a road favorite. Portland has lost four in a row, including a 118-89 humiliation against the Clippers on Thursday. The Trail Blazers are 0-7 ATS in their past seven games, following a loss of more than 10 points. Portland has lost its past four games by an average of 18.5 points, and it is 1-5 ATS in its past six home contests. Take the Rockets.