The suddenly relevant Los Angeles Clippers take to the road this evening to face Western Conference rival Portland at the Rose Garden. Tip off in tonight's game is scheduled for 10:30pm ET on TNT. The latest NBA Odds are favoring the Blazers by -3.5 points against the spread and -165 on the moneyline. The Over/Under is presently set at 195.
The Clippers, which started the season by 
going 1-13, have been one of the hotter teams in the league over the past month. Los Angeles has won three games in a row and 11 of its last 15 to improve to 16-24 overall.
The Clippers newfound success is a direct result of rookie forward Blake Griffin's continued development. Griffin, who is averaging 22.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, has been a major force in the months of December and January as evidenced by a double-double streak (points, rebounds) that reached 27 games on Martin Luther King Jr Day.
Griffin saw that streak end this Wednesday, but he still powered the surging Clippers to a 126-111 win over the Timberwolves at the STAPLES Center. Griffin scored 29 points, dished out six assists, and grabbed eight boards in the double digit route.
Portland has had its fair share of success of late as well. The Trail Blazers won their third straight game on Wednesday with a 94-90 overtime victory at Sacramento. Three Portland players topped the 20 mark, including front court players LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum.
Aldridge scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, five of which came on the offensive end, while Batum dropped in a game high 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
Portland's recent surge, coupled with the Thunder's two game losing streak, has the 23-20 Blazers just 4.5 games out of first in the logjammed Northwest Division.
The Blazers, which have won four in a row over the Clippers at the Rose Garden, are 14-5 at home this season.
NBA Odds Betting Trend: The Trail Blazers are 3-7 straight up and against the spread in their last 10 games as a home favorite with a spread between 0 and 3.5 and total between 190 and 195.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers NBA Odds – January 20th, 2011:
Los Angeles Clippers +3.5 (-110), Over 195 (-110), +145 (Moneyline)
Portland Trail Blazers -3.5 (-110), Under 195 (-110), -165 (Moneyline)
