Sunday, April 27, 9:30 PM on TNT, KGW, CSNH

Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

As far as entertainment value in the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs, you'd be hard fought to match the first three games of the Portland/Houston series. Two of three games have gone into OT with all of them being high-scoring affairs that soared over the elevated totals. Houston was able to finally get in the win column Friday night after fighting back from a 9-point halftime deficit to force another overtime. Underutilized D-Leaguer Troy Daniels hit a 3-point shot late in the extra quarter to propel the Rockets to a 121-116 win and give them a semblance of a chance to even it up on Sunday in Portland.

A key to the Rockets win was not stopping, but slowing down the LaMarcus Aldridge train. The PF went for 46 and 43 in the first two games in Houston but 'only' dropped 23 on Friday. Damian Lillard continued his mainstream coming out party with 30 points but showed signs of fatigue in OT.

Houston's James Harden continued his poor shooting but proved he was a volume scorer, meaning if you chuck up a large volume of shots you're bound to get your numbers. Harden scored 37 points on 35 shots but the Rockets were a +11 when he was in regardless. Dwight Howard grabbed his 43rd rebound of the series and chipped in 24 points on an efficient 10-16 from the field.

Houston covered their first line of the series Friday by winning as +2.5 underdogs. In a sign that Sunday is anybody's game oddsmakers have a similar spread of Portland -2.

ATS Trends

Houston is 18-23-0 ATS on the road this season

Houston is 22-19-0 against the over/under on the road this season

Portland is 19-22-0 ATS at home this season

Portland is 22-18-1 against the over/under at home this season

Injuries to Watch

Houston

01/25/14 F Greg Smith Knee out indefinitely

Portland

No injuries to report at this time

Tony's Pick: Take Portland

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