Portland at Oklahoma City

At 26-35 on the season, the Portland Trailblazers would normally have no shot for a playoff bid in the rugged NBA Western Conference. This is not a normal season as the West has become top heavy, and the Trailblazers are sitting just one game behind Denver in the loss column for the eighth and final playoff spot out of the West. Oklahoma City may have the league MVP in Russell Westbrook, but they have not gotten help from a pedestrian supporting cast, and have begun to leak oil at 7-9 in their last 16 games overall, and enter on a three-game losing streak. They beat Portland by six at home just about a month ago, but at the time were in the midst of a 7-3 run. Portland returned the favor two games back with a five-point home win, and have won two in a row to move to the edge of playoff qualification. Portland is playing with more purpose right now, so take the Trailblazers.