Rockets vs Trail Blazers 2020 NBA Lines, Analysis & Prediction

The Houston Rockets played on Monday without both James Harden and Russell Westbrook yet found a way to win in Utah. Houston will have Westbrook back Wednesday to take on the Portland Trail Blazers and might have Harden as well. His status will affect the NBA odds.
How to Bet Rockets vs Trail Blazers 2020 NBA Lines, Analysis & Prediction
Season Series
Third of four meetings and they have split the first two, both in Houston. They last played on Jan. 15 and the Blazers won 117-107. Damian Lillard led Portland with 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals, while Russell Westbrook paced Houston with 31 points to go with 11 rebounds and 12 assists. James Harden had just 13 points. The Rockets pulled within five at 105-100 with 5:03 remaining but the Blazers put the game away with a 6-0 run; C.J. McCollum had 11 of his 24 points in the quarter. Portland outshot Houston 43.2% to 39.6% and shot 24-of-29 from the line while the Rockets shot 15-of-23.
Portland has won three of the past five games after losing seven of the previous eight in the series.
Why Bet on Houston?
The Rockets were big underdogs Monday in Utah without James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela yet won 126-117 behind a career-high 50 points from Eric Gordon. He shot 14 of 22 from the field — including 6 for 11 on 3-pointers — and 16 of 20 at the free throw line. He became the first Rockets player besides Harden to score 50 points in a game since Hakeem Olajuwon had 51 in January 1996.
The veteran guard had his first game with more than 30 points this season. His previous career best of 41 came against Oklahoma City on Jan. 23, 2009. Gordon missed 22 games after having surgery on his right knee Nov. 13. Since his return, he’s averaging 20 points in 13 games.
Austin Rivers shot 7-of-21 from the field and 5-of-8 from the foul line in Monday’s win for 21 points with four rebounds. Rivers was thrust into the starting lineup because of Harden and Westbrook sitting. Westbrook was just resting, while Harden has a left thigh contusion and Capela a right-heel contusion. P.J. Tucker played 32 minutes in Monday’s win, scoring nine points with 10 rebounds and five assists. The Jazz outshot the Rockets 50.6% to 46.9% but Houston shot 35-of-49 from the line while the Jazz shot 19-of-26.
The Rockets have won two of their past three road games after losing four of their previous five. Houston is 14-10 on the road this season, including six straight wins from 12/5-12/23. The Rockets won 13 of their final 19 road games in 2018-19 after starting 9-13 on the road. Houston has led by double-digits in 37 of the 46 games this season (28-9 mark). The Rockets are 26-5 when leading after three quarters of play this season (42-6 in 2018-19) and 3-12 when tied or trailing (11-23 in 2018-19).
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Average Score For: 118.65
- Field Goals: 45.46%
- Three Points: 34.64%
- Free Throws: 77.87%
- Rebounds: 46.80
Defense:
- Average Score Against: 114.33
- Field Goals: 45.78%
- Three Points: 34.51%
- Free Throws: 75.98%
- Rebounds: 46.26
Why Bet on Portland?
The Blazers were 139-129 home winners over Indiana on Sunday. Indiana hasn’t won in Portland since the 2007-08 season, a streak of 11 games. The Pacers were without starter Malcolm Brogdon, who missed in concussion protocol. Indiana center Myles Turner also sat out because of illness.
Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 50 points, becoming the first Portland player with 40-plus points in three straight games, He’s also the only player in Blazers history with 50+ scoring games in a single season. He was ultra-efficient with 14-of-23 field goals and 14-of-16 free throws, going 8-of-12 from downtown with just one turnover in 38 minutes.
Earlier last week, Lillard scored a franchise-record 61 points in an overtime win against the Warriors. He has also made eight or more 3-pointers in his last three games, joining Golden State star Stephen Curry as the only NBA players with as many over three games. Lillard is one of four players in the NBA averaging at least 27.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists (Harden/Doncic/Young). He would be the first player in franchise history to sustain those averages for an entire season.
CJ McCollum returned after a three-game absence because of an ankle injury and added 28 points for the Blazers. He was 11-of-21 shooting, including a 6-of-9 mark from deep. McCollum also had five assists and didn’t appear to be on a minute limit, as he logged 36 minutes.
Hassan Whiteside had 21 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks in 36 minutes vs. Indiana. His league-leading 3.0 blocks per game are well ahead of second-place Brook Lopez (2.6). Whiteside has recorded a double-double with at least five blocks in 11 games this season, which is six more than the next closest player.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Average Score For: 112.79
- Field Goals: 45.30%
- Three Points: 36.55%
- Free Throws: 81.24%
- Rebounds: 45.96
Defense:
- Average Score Against: 114.85
- Field Goals: 44.80$
- Three Points: 36.72%
- Free Throws: 76.44%
- Rebounds: 47.91
NBA Betting Trends for Rockets vs Trail Blazers
- The total went OVER in 4 of Houston’s last 6 games
- Rockets are 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games against Portland
- Rockets are 9-4 SU in the last 13 games against Portland
- Trail Blazers are 16-3 SU in the last 19 games played on a Wednesday
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland’s last 5 games
- Trail Blazers are 1-7 ATS in the last 8 games at home
Rockets vs Trail Blazers Expert NBA Betting Prediction
Rockets 120, Trail Blazers 116
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