Game: Atlanta Hawks @ Portland Trail Blazers
Time: 10:00 p.m.
Odds: Hawks +2, Trail Blazers -2
Total: 237
The Portland Trail Blazers’ winning 11-game streak came to an end Monday night, but the team has one more opportunity to take advantage of its current homestand. The Trail Blazers welcome the Atlanta Hawks tonight to wrap up a 21-day stretch in which 10 of 11 games were played at home. Portland is only 4-6 during this stretch with its sole out-of-town trip to Denver where the Blazers lost to the Nuggets.
On Saturday, Portland got a break when they took on Toronto, but they couldn’t take advantage. The Raptors were playing the second night of a road back-to-back after losing 129-117 to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night in San Francisco. Portland was well-rested after not playing since Wednesday. The Raptors actually jumped out to a 30-7 lead early on and cruised to a 123-105 win.
Portland star Damian Lillard put up a season-high 60 points in a 134-124 home victory over the Utah Jazz the night before, then three nights later he added 30 points against Toronto. With 8:41 left, he hit a 3-pointer to get Portland within 94-90, but the Raptors scored 14 points in a row to win it. While playing without Jusuf Nurkic (calf) and Josh Hart (hamstring), Portland was outrebounded 45–27. Both players are listed as questionable for tonight.
As they begin a five-game road trip, the Hawks have lost three of their last four games. On Saturday, when the Los Angeles Clippers were in town, Atlanta lost 120-113 because the Hawk’s defense was unable to stop Kawhi Leonard, who made five 3-pointers and finished with 32 points. The Clippers made 19-of-39 from behind the three-point arc.
Hawks star guard Trae Young claimed that Paul George (23 points), along with Leonard, was a major issue for Atlanta. Defending two All-Star caliber players can be difficult for Atlanta, which ranks 22nd in the league in points allowed (116.6 ppg).
Young scored 31 points and dished out 10 assists, but for the fourth time in six games, he failed to make a three-pointer. Over his past six games, Young is just 4-of-25 from three-point range and he missed both of his attempts against the Clippers. He does, however, have four straight games with a double-double.
Portland is 4-9 SU and ATS in its last 13 games. The Trail Blazers tend to play better at home where they have been good to bettors. Portland is 10-5 ATS in their last 15 home games and 5-0 ATS in their last five home games against Atlanta.
The Hawks are 6-3 in their last nine games. They are 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS in their last nine against Portland. Atlanta is, however, 5-1 SU in its last six games on the road.
The Under has cashed in 12 of Portland’s last 18 games. The Over is 6-1 in Atlanta’s last seven games and, in the series with Portland, the Over has hit in four of the last six games.
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