Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets Expert NBA Picks Against the Spread 11/18/2019

Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets

Date: Monday, November 18, 2019

Location: Toyota Center in Houston, TX

TV: NBA TV

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -6.5

Total/Over-Under: 233

Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (5-8, 5th in the Northwest Division) head to Toyota Center on Monday where they'll take on the Houston Rockets (10-3, 1st in the Southwest Division). Houston opens this contest as 6.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 233.

The Blazers cover the spread 50.0% of the time, having gone 6-6-1 ATS. Houston is covering 46.2% of the time, going 6-7-0 against the spread.

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

11/13/2019 Pau Gasol PF Foot Game Time Decision
11/12/2019 Zach Collins PF Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Mar 15
7/6/2019 Jusuf Nurkic C Lower Leg Expected to be out until at least Feb 1

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

11/17/2019 Jr SF Back Game Time Decision
11/17/2019 Clint Capela C Concussion Game Time Decision
11/12/2019 Eric Gordon SG Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 13
11/11/2019 Nene C Hip Expected to be out until at least Dec 1
10/28/2019 Gerald Green SG Foot Expected to be out until at least Apr 15

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard comes into this contest averaging 29.8 points per game while playing 38.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 93%. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points per game in 37.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.4 assists per contest and 4.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 21.0 points per game while playing 32.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.0 rebounds per game and has 6.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 69%. James Harden averages 39.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.6 rebounds per contest and 7.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 112.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.2 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 23rd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 46.5 rebounds per game and 17.8 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 23rd with 14.5 per game. The Blazers allow 114.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 11th and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 48.2 rebounds a game which ranks 27th and they give up 23.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 10th place in the league. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 2nd in the league with 118.5 points per game this year. They are 24th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 4.4. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 19th in the NBA. They are 11th in the league in rebounding with 46.5 boards per game, and 26th in assists per contest with 20.8. The Rockets are 20th in turnovers per game with 15.2. The Rockets surrender 114.2 points per contest, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 16th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 25.2 assists allowed per contest and 25th with 48.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 21st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 110, and their offensive rating of 108.8 is ranked 19th. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 102.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 21st. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA. Portland is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 23rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 23rd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 15th in the NBA. The Rockets are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 108, and their offensive rating of 112.2 is ranked 16th. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 105.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -6.5

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