The Portland Trail Blazers pay a visit to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on Wednesday night. Here’s a Thunder vs Trail Blazers Prediction. This article will include a Thunder vs Trail Blazers Pick.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
The Portland Trail Blazers have been in great form as they’ve won five of their last eight games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight victory after sneaking past the Mavericks in a 125-122 win on Monday. Deni Avdija led the team with 27 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists on nine of 18 shooting, Shaedon Sharpe and Caleb Love each scored 24 points while Donovan Clingan chipped in with 18 points and 11 assists on eight of 10 shooting. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 47 percent from the field and 16 of 41 from the 3-point line as they stormed out of the gates with 42 points in the first quarter to take a 17-point lead. However, they allowed the Mavericks back into the contest and they looked like they were in trouble before they closed the final 2:55 on a 12-5 run to escape with the narrow win at home.
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have cooled off a bit recently as they’ve split their last eight games, but they will be eager to heat up again after smashing the Hawks in a 140-129 win on Monday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 39 points, six rebounds and six assists on 15 of 24 shooting, Chet Holmgren added 24 points with nine rebounds and two blocks while Jalen Willaims tallied 20 points with nine rebounds and seven assists. As a team, the Thunder shot 54 percent from the field and 12 of 32 from the 3-point line as they got off to a sloppy start and allowed 74 points in the first half to trail going into halftime. Before they took full control of the contest with a 43-point explosion in the third quarter to set up the comfortable win at home.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win
- The Thunder have won each of their last 44 games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last nine games at Paycom Center.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight road games against Northwest Division opponents.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last six night games against Northwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Thunder have lost each of their last three games as favorites against Western Conference opponents following a win.
- The Trail Blazers have won eight of their last 12 games as underdogs following a home win.
- The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games following a win.
- The Trail Blazers have covered the spread in each of their last six Wednesday games as underdogs.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Thunder’s last six home games against the Trail Blazers have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Nine of the Trail Blazers’ last 10 games at Paycom Center have gone UNDER the total points line.
Oklahoma City Thunder Player Facts
- Cason Wallace ranks 1st amongst qualified players for steals per game (2.2) this season.
- Chet Holmgren is the only player to have made 9+ field goals without a miss in a game this season.
Portland Trail Blazers Player Facts
- Donovan Clingan ranks T4th in the league for second chance points (117) this season.
- Deni Avdija is one of only six qualified players in the league averaging at least 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Thunder rank 1st in the league for opponent points per game this season (107.9).
- The Thunder rank 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+14.2).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent steals per game this season (10.8).
- The Trail Blazers rank 30th in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (6.2).
Thunder vs Trail Blazers Prediction
The Trail Blazers are still missing a long list of players including Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle, while the Thunder have ruled out Ousmane Dieng, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Nikola Topic. These teams have already met three times this season, with the Trail Blazers stunning the Thunder early in the season, before the Thunder got their revenge by winning the last two meetings. It’s hard to picture anything but a comfortable win for the Thunder, who are always so tough to beat at home, but I think the Trail Blazers can hang around and earn the backdoor cover at the end.