The Portland Trail Blazers (4-2) travel to Toyota Center to clash against the league leading Houston Rockets (1-4). The game will air on ATTSN Southwest at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.
Houston is a 3-point favorite on the opening line, while the Over/Under (O/U) for the game opened at 222 points.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets Free Prediction
In the Trail Blazers’ last game, they defeated the Indiana Pacers, 103-93, as 1.5-point underdogs. The game’s total points (196) came in well under the projected point total of 220. The Trail Blazers held the Pacers to an offensive rebounding percentage of 14.6 (below their season average of 22.4) and had a better free throw rate (0.218 vs. 0.144). Al-Farouq Aminu had a good outing for Portland, putting up 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Rockets lost big to the Los Angeles Clippers in their last matchup, 133-113, despite being 4-point favorites. The combined points for the game (246) came in well over the O/U total of 218. Los Angeles was effective at getting to and converting from the charity stripe. The Clippers made 35 of their 38 free throws (92.1 percent), while the Rockets were 22-25 (88.0 percent). Houston’s Clint Capela put up 14 points and 15 rebounds in the contest.
Portland could have a difficult time creating turnovers. Since the 2017-18 season, Houston ranks sixth in the NBA at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 12.9 percent), while Portland has forced the first-fewest turnovers (12.4 percent).
Portland comes into the contest with records of 4-2 straight up (SU) and 3-2 against the spread (ATS). Vegas is known to place the total low when the Trail Blazers are involved, as 100.0 percent of their games have ended over the projected point total.
Meanwhile, Houston owns records of 1-4 SU and 1-4 ATS. Coinciding with Portland, Rockets games also tend to finish over the total (80.0 percent).
The Rockets won all four meetings against the Trail Blazers last season. In the last matchup, Houston won 96-94. The Rockets had a better free throw rate (0.205 vs. 0.106) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.555 vs. 0.500).
Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets ATS Pick
Free NBA Pick: SU Winner – Trail Blazers, ATS Winner – Trail Blazers, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes (2017-Present):
When holding opponents below 100 points, Houston is 38-3 and Portland is 27-8.
The Rockets are 72-18 when they reach the century mark, while the Trail Blazers are 48-23.
Portland ranks fifth in points allowed in the paint per game (43.0) while Houston ranks 29th (48.3).
The Rockets rank third in steals per game (8.5) while the Trail Blazers rank 25th (7.0).
Houston ranks 10th in points off turnovers per game (16.9) while Portland ranks 29th (14.1).
The Rockets rank first in three pointers attempted per game (41.8) while the Trail Blazers rank 18th (28.6).
Portland ranks third in rebounds per game (45.7) while Houston ranks 20th (43.3).
The Rockets rank 17th in fast break points per game (11.3) while the Trail Blazers rank last (8.6).
Houston averages 4.9 blocks per game, which ranks 11th in the league. Portland ranks 23rd in blocks allowed per game (5.2).
The Trail Blazers rank second in assists allowed per game (20.7) while the Rockets rank 10th (22.3).
Portland averages 13.6 second chance points per game, which ranks sixth in the league. Houston ranks eighth in second chance points allowed per game (11.7).
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