Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Predictions, NBA Picks, Betting Tips 8/4/2020

Game: Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers

Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Location: The Arena in Orlando, Florida

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -4.5

Total/Over-Under: 243.5

The Arena is the venue where Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (30-38, 4th in the Northwest Division) will take on the Houston Rockets (42-24, 1st in the Southwest Division) on Tuesday. Houston opens this contest as 4.5-point favorites. The over/under is set at 243.5.

The Rockets cover the spread 47.0% of the time, having gone 31-35-0 ATS. Portland is covering the spread 43.1% of the time, going 28-37-3 against the spread.

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

08/01/20 SF Bruno Caboclo Ankle is questionable Tuesday vs Portland
07/29/20 SG Eric Gordon Ankle is out indefinitely
07/21/20 SF Thabo Sefolosha Personal is out for season

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/06/19 SG Rodney Hood Achilles is out indefinitely
06/28/20 SF Trevor Ariza Personal is out for season

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook comes into this game averaging 27.6 points per contest while playing 36.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 7.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 77%. Robert Covington averages 12.8 points per contest in 30.4 minutes per game. He averages 1.2 assists per game and 6.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% for the season while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard scores 28.9 points per contest while playing 37.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.3 rebounds per contest and has 8.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. CJ McCollum averages 22.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 36.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.1 rebounds per game and has 4.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 118.7 points per contest, which is 1st in the league. Their average scoring margin is 3.8 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 22nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 22nd in the NBA. They average 44.8 boards per contest and 21.6 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 17th with 14.5 per game. The Rockets allow 114.9 points per contest, which is 24th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 11th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.4 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they allow 25.3 assists per game which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 16.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 27th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 7th in the NBA with 114.2 points per contest this season. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.54. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 3rd in the league. They are 12th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.3 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 20.5. The Blazers are 27th in turnovers per contest with 13.0. The Blazers give up 115.7 points per game, which ranks them 26th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 10th and 28th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.7 dimes allowed per game and 28th with 47.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 4th in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114, and their defensive rating of 110.4 is ranked 15th. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 103.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 5th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 15th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 27th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 17th in the NBA. The Blazers are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 114.4, and their offensive rating of 112.9 is ranked 27th. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 100.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Portland +4.5

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