Portland Blazers at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 4/5/2018

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers head to Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets on Thursday, April 5, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 4 point favorites.

The Blazers come into this game with an overall record of 48-30. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.8 as they are averaging 106.1 points per game while giving up 103.3 per contest. The Rockets have an overall mark of 63-15. They currently are 1st in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 113.2 points per contest and giving up 104.1, which is a point differential of 9.1.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 42-31-5 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 34-44-0 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 41-35-2 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 33-44-1 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

04/01/18 F Ed Davis Ankle is out indefinitely
03/27/18 F Maurice Harkless Knee is out indefinitely

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

04/03/18 F Ryan Anderson Ankle injured last game, is "?" Thursday vs Portland

Player Spotlight

C.J. McCollum comes into this game averaging 21.6 points per contest while playing 36.1 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Damian Lillard averages 26.7 points per contest in 36.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 6.6 assists per game and 4.5 rebounds per contest for Portland. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 92%.

Player Spotlight

James Harden has scored 30.7 points per contest while playing 35.5 minutes per game this season for the Rockets. He hauls in 5.4 rebounds per contest and has 8.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Eric Gordon averages 18.2 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 31.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.5 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 106.1 points per contest this year, which is 16th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.86 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 19th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 9th in the NBA. They average 45.4 boards per contest and 19.7 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 24th with 13.5 per game. The Blazers allow 103.3 points per contest which is 5th in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 20th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.8 rebounds a game which ranks 14th, and they allow 20.2 assists per game which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 2nd in the NBA with 113.2 points per contest this season. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 9.05. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 14th in the league. They are 18th in the NBA in rebounding with 43.5 boards per contest and 24th in assists per game with 21.8. The Rockets are 21st in turnovers per contest with 13.7. The Rockets give up 104.1 points per game, which ranks them 8th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 17th and 8th in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 22.5 dimes allowed per game and 4th with 41.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Rockets are 21st in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 11th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.5, and their defensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 20th. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 18th in the league. Portland is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 20th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 15th in the NBA. The Rockets are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 106.2, and their offensive rating of 115.5 is ranked 26th. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 97.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Houston -4

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