The Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets duke it out at the Toyota Center on Friday night. Here’s a Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction. This article will include a Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Pick.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers were starting to build a bit of momentum with three wins on the trot before they fell back down to Earth with a 109-99 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. Shaedon Sharpe led the team with 21 points on six of 16 shooting, Tounami Camara and Jerami Grant each scored 14 points while Deni Avdija chipped in with 13 points off the bench.
As a team, the Trail Blazers shot just 40 percent from the field and 15 of 38 from the 3-point line which was good enough to keep pace with the Thunder in a tight contest, until the fourth quarter where they allowed 39 points to give the Thunder the win in the end. The Blazers will meet the Rockets, Grizzlies, Pacers, and Kings after this one.
Houston Rockets
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been in great shape as they’ve won six of their last seven games overall and they will be hoping for a better effort after getting routed by the Pacers in a 130-113 home win on Wednesday. Alperen Sengun led the team with 31 points and 12 rebounds on 12 of 19 shooting, Jabari Smith Jr added 23 points while Fred VanVleet chipped in with 18 points, six assists, and four steals.
As a team, the Rockets shot 46 percent from the field and 12 of 36 from the 3-point line as they poured in 62 points in the first half to take the early lead, before they dominated the third quarter by 36-24 to win comfortably at home.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last 10 night games against Southwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
- The Rockets have won each of their last nine home games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in each of their last nine home games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last three road games against Southwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Rockets’ last eight games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back has gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Trail Blazers’ last four games on the first leg of a back-to-back has gone OVER the total points line.
Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
The Trail Blazers could be shorthanded again with Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson both questionable, while the Rockets are coming into this one with a full squad once again. The Trail Blazers found a bit of form before Wednesday’s loss to the Thunder, but the Rockets are coming into this one red-hot as they’ve barely missed a step over their last seven games. The Trail Blazers are capable of making this a contest if Simons or Henderson can return from injury, but as it stands, I feel better going with the Rockets to get the big win at home.