Houston Rockets at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets travel to Moda Center to play the Portland Blazers on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 6 point favorites.

The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 19-4. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 11.3 as they are averaging 114.0 points per game while giving up 102.7 per contest. The Blazers have an overall record of 13-11. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.8 points per game and surrendering 100.3, good for a point differential of 2.5.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 14-9-0 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 10-13-0 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 8-14-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 7-17-0 against the over/under

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/08/17 C Nene Hilario Eye is "?" Saturday vs Portland

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

12/08/17 C Jusuf Nurkic Ankle left last game, is "?" Saturday vs Houston
12/05/17 F Maurice Harkless Quad left last game, is "?" Saturday vs Houston

Player Spotlight

James Harden averages 31.6 points per game in 35.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 9.4 assists per contest and 5.1 rebounds per game for Houston. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%. Eric Gordon comes into this contest averaging 18.9 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Rockets. He pulls down 2.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is currently at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averages 25.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 37 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.2 rebounds per contest and 6.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 93%. C.J. McCollum averages 20.7 points per game while playing 36.4 minutes per contest this year for the Blazers. He grabs 4.4 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets allow 102.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 8th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 13th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 40.6 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd, and they give up 22.1 assists per contest which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 23rd in the league. Houston averages 114 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 11.35 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 10th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 13th in the league. They average 44.8 rebounds per game and 23 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 16.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers surrender 100.3 points per contest, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 18.2 assists allowed per contest, and 6th with 41.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blazers are 2nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13 per game this season. Portland is 23rd in the league with 102.8 points per game this year. They are 27th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 2.5. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the NBA. They are 3rd in the league in rebounding with 46.9 boards per game and 30th in assists per contest with 18.2. The Blazers are 15th in turnovers per game with 15.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114.7, and their defensive rating of 103.3 is ranked 26th. In terms of pace they are 8th in the league with 99.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 52% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 7th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 16th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 18th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 30th in the NBA. The Blazers are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 102.9, and their offensive rating of 105.5 is ranked 27th. They are 15th in the NBA in pace with 97 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 27th. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 27th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Rockets/Blazers NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Houston -6

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