Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 3/3/2018

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Moda Center to take on the Portland Blazers on Saturday, March 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has Portland as 3.5 point favorites.

The Thunder come into this game with an overall record of 36-27. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.9 as they are averaging 106.4 points per game while giving up 103.5 per contest. The Blazers have an overall record of 36-26. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 105.2 points per game and surrendering 103.4, good for a point differential of 1.8.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 24-38-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 29-34-0 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 31-28-3 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 26-36-0 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

01/28/18 G Andre Roberson Leg is out for season

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

03/02/18 F Maurice Harkless Knee injured last game, is "?" Saturday vs Oklahoma City

Player Spotlight

Paul George comes into this game averaging 22.4 points per contest while playing 36.6 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 81%. Russell Westbrook averages 24.9 points per contest in 36.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 10.3 assists per game and 9.6 rebounds per contest for Oklahoma City. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

C.J. McCollum has scored 21.6 points per contest while playing 36 minutes per game this season for the Blazers. He hauls in 3.8 rebounds per contest and has 3.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Damian Lillard averages 26.5 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 36.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.6 rebounds per game and 6.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 91%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 106.4 points per contest this year, which is 14th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.86 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 20th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 26th in the NBA. They average 45.1 boards per contest and 21.2 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 16th with 14.2 per game. The Thunder allow 103.5 points per contest which is 7th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 15th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 41.4 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd, and they allow 23.3 assists per game which puts them in 18th place in the league. They force 16 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 17th in the NBA with 105.2 points per contest this season. They are 21st in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 1.74. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 3rd in the league. They are 6th in the NBA in rebounding with 45 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 19. The Blazers are 22nd in turnovers per contest with 13.8. The Blazers give up 103.4 points per game, which ranks them 5th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 17th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 20.2 dimes allowed per game and 16th with 43 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 2nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 9th in the league in defensive rating with 106.9, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 22nd. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 20th. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA. Oklahoma City is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 14th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 22nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 26th in the NBA. The Blazers are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 106.6, and their offensive rating of 108.4 is ranked 25th. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 21st. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 22nd in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Oklahoma City +3.5

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