The Clippers are in Portland tonight to face the up-and-down Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. The two Western Conference rivals are scheduled to take the court at 10:30pm ET; the game will be broadcast live on TNT. The latest NBA Odds have Los Angeles listed as a -2 against the spread road favorite and the Over/Under set at 188.5 points.
Since winning four straight games between January 26th and February 1st, the Clippers have failed to put a significant winning streak together. Los Angeles has, however, maintained it front runner status in the Pacific by scoring two wins to every loss. If that trend holds true this evening, the Clippers should enjoy a victory tonight in Portland.
Chris Paul and company took out the Washington with ease last night at the STAPLES Center, defeating the Wizards 102-84 to improve to 18-9 on the season and maintain a two game lead on the Lakers in the division standings. Six Clippers scored in double figures, including the aforementioned Paul, but Blake Griffin turned in the biggest performance, posting 23 points, 15 rebounds (eight offensive), and three assists.
The win came on the heels of a 92-96 road loss to the surging Mavericks, enabling the Clippers, who are 1-1 against the Blazers this season, to avoid what would have been just their second back-to-back losses of the season.
Portland (16-14), which is 4-5 in the month of February, stemmed a 1-4 slide last night with an unexpected 93-91 win over Golden State in Oakland. The Trail Blazers, who without their leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge (listed as doubtful for tonight’s game), shot 40.5 percent from the field compared to the Warriors 47.4; however, they hoisted eight more shot than their host and also dropped 10-of-22 from beyond the arc.
Leading the way for the Blazers was Gerald Wallace, who scored a team-high 24 after going a perfect 4-for-4 from three point range and 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Four other Portland players also notched double-figures in points, including Marcus Camby, who tallied his second double-double in as many games.
While the Clippers are, unquestionably, the better of these two teams right now, a Los Angeles victory is anything but a foregone conclusion. The Blazers have six of the last seven games between these two teams and they are 8-2 in their last 10 opposite the Clippers at the Rose Garden. L.A. may escape with a ‘W’, but here’s predicting it will be anything but easy.
NBA Odds Betting Trend: Portland is 7-3 both straight up and against the spread in its last 10 homes games against a Pacific Division team.
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Los Angeles Clippers vs Portland Trail Blazers 2012 NBA Odds: Provided by TopBet.com
Los Angeles Clippers -2 (-110), Over 188.5 (-110), -135 (Moneyline)
Portland Trail Blazers +2 (-110), Under 188.5 (-110), +115 (Moneyline)
