Thunder vs. Trail Blazers Betting Line – Heat vs. Pelicans Betting Line – February 27
Carrie Stroup here with your Thunder vs. Trail Blazers betting line as well as your Heat vs. Pelicans betting line for February 27.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (32-26) at PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (37-19)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Portland -6, Total: 207.0
The Blazers look to win their second straight game when they host the Thunder on Friday.
The Thunder went into Phoenix on Thursday and came away with a 117-113 overtime loss as 5-point road favorites. Oklahoma City had won-and-covered in seven straight before that loss. The Blazers haven’t playing nearly as well though, as a 111-95 victory as 2.5-point home favorites over San Antonio snapped a 2-game SU and ATS losing streak for Portland. The Blazers had averaged just 84.0 PPG in their previous two games before exploding for 111 points against the Spurs. They’ll need to be more consistent offensively moving forward.
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These two teams have met twice this season, with Portland winning-and-covering in both games. Despite the more recent success for the Blazers, Oklahoma City is still 6-4 SU and 5-4-1 ATS versus Portland over the past three seasons. The Thunder are also 3-2 SU and 2-2 ATS versus the Blazers in Portland in that time. Eight of the past 10 games played between these teams have gone Under the total.
Oklahoma City is 3-13 ATS after two straight games committing 11 or less turnovers over the past three seasons. The team is 12-1 ATS after scoring 110 points or more this season. SF Kevin Durant (Foot) is out for the next week or so as he deals with soreness in his foot and SF Steve Novak (Appendix) and C Steven Adams (Hand) are out indefinitely for the Thunder. C Joel Freeland (Shoulder) is out indefinitely for the Blazers.
The Thunder were unable to earn a victory in Phoenix on Thursday, but the team is still playing remarkably as of late. PG Russell Westbrook (26.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, 6.6 RPG, 2.1 SPG) shot the ball horribly against the Blazers, but he did have 39 points (12-for-38 FG, 1-for-10 3PT, 14-for-16 FT), 14 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals in 43 minutes. It was Westbrook’s second straight triple-double and he is now averaging 29.4 PPG, 11.6 APG and 9.0 RPG over the past five contests. The superstar has dominated Portland this year, averaging 39.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 6.0 APG and 3.0 SPG in two games against the team. He’ll need to find a way to get his team a victory in this one.
C Enes Kanter (14.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG) has played well since being traded to Oklahoma City. Kanter had 18 points and six rebounds in 37 minutes against the Suns and he’ll have to score in the post if the Thunder is going to beat the Blazers. Portland has an excellent frontcourt, so the Thunder will need points in the paint in this game.
PF Serge Ibaka (14.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.4 BPG) must be at his best in this game, as he will need to play well defensively against PF LaMarcus Aldridge (23.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.1 BPG). Ibaka can also help this team by spacing the floor, as he is a very good outside shooter (39% 3PT) now. If he is blocking shots and knocking down jumpers then he will make his teammates a lot better in this one.
SG Dion Waiters (10.8 PPG, 1.3 SPG) has played much better for the Thunder recently, averaging 15.7 PPG over the past three contests. Waiters is going to be relied on to score off the bench the rest of the season, especially with SF Kevin Durant (25.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.1 APG) out.
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The Blazers picked up a much-needed victory in a 111-95 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday. PF LaMarcus Aldridge really struggled in that game, finishing with just 11 points (5-for-19 FG), 13 rebounds and no blocks in 35 minutes of action. Aldridge has played well against Oklahoma City this season, averaging 26.0 PPG in two meetings with the Thunder. He must find his stroke in this game, as the Thunder offense has been on fire lately and the Blazers will need their leading scorer to be playing at a high level.
PG Damian Lillard (21.3 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.4 SPG) had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists against the Spurs. Lillard hasn’t played poorly, but he also hasn’t scored 20+ points in each of the past four games. He will be looking to end that streak against a Thunder team that he has lit up this season, scoring 25.0 PPG with 8.0 APG in their two previous meetings. Lillard will, however, need to play well on defense as well with Westbrook in town.
SG Wesley Matthews (16.3 PPG, 1.2 SPG) had one of his best games of the season against San Antonio, scoring 31 points with five rebounds and three steals in 34 minutes. Matthews is one of the best two-way players in the league and he will need to bring a lot of energy to his team against the Thunder.
C Robin Lopez (9.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.6 BPG) is averaging 2.0 BPG over the past four contests. He’ll need to play some solid defense in this game, as Enes Kanter has really been playing well offensively for Oklahoma City.
SF Nicolas Batum (9.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG) has looked excellent over the past two games, averaging 16.0 PPG, 7.0 APG and 7.0 RPG in 36.5 MPG. Batum struggled in the first half of the season, but he can really bring this Blazers team to another level if he starts shooting the ball well consistently.
MIAMI HEAT (25-31) at NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (30-27)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Miami -2.5, Total: 196
The New Orleans Pelicans hope to continue a recent three-game winning streak when they host the Miami Heat on Friday night.
Miami has taken hit after hit this year with injuries, but it comes into this contest with a solid run of four SU victories in its past six games (2-3-1 ATS) as each win came while being the favorite. The teams that they beat are some of the bottom-feeders in the NBA though, with two of them coming against New York followed by Philadelphia and Orlando. In the most recent contest against the Magic they just barely edged out a 93-90 win as three-point favorites on the road despite shooting a putrid 38.1% from the floor. In the end it came down to who could protect the ball better as the Heat gave up the rock 12 times compared to forcing Orlando into 18 turnovers.
The Pelicans have also been hit by the injury bug this year but have come out of the All-Star break with wins in three of the past four games both SU and ATS. They were considered the underdog in each of the games as they won by an average of 7.7 PPG and shot better than 51% as a team in each of the last two outings. Brooklyn was their latest victim when they traveled to the “Big Easy” and took a 102-96 defeat while giving 2.5 points to the home team. New Orleans overcame its 20 turnovers with some impressive shooting (51.4% FG) and was a solid 11-for-25 from long range.
Miami has played to a similar level both on the road and at home as they have gone 15-15 SU (15-12-3 ATS) in away games, but its opponent is a solid 19-10 SU (17-11-1 ATS) in front of its fans. The last meeting between the clubs was just a few days ago, last Saturday to be exact, and it was part of the Pelicans three-game winning streak they are currently riding as they defeated the Heat by a score of 105-91 as 2.5-point underdogs on the road. It was a great win for New Orleans since they had both PFs Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson go down with injuries early on and pulled together while forcing Miami into 17 turnovers. Historically, the Pelicans (formally the Hornets) have performed great against this opponent at home, compiling a 22-6 SU and ATS record since 1996 and won the last time here 105-95 while getting five points.
Trends show us that Miami is 212-171 ATS (55%) in road games after a contest where they failed to cover the spread since 1996 as they are a mere 5-16 ATS (24%) after one or more consecutive wins this year. There are a multitude of injuries that will factor into the outcome of this contest as SF Luol Deng (Head) is probable and PF Chris Bosh (Blood Clot) is slated to miss the remainder of the season for the Heat. It isn’t much better for New Orleans with PF Anthony Davis (Shoulder), PF Ryan Anderson (Knee) and PG Jrue Holiday (Ankle) all out for this matchup.
The Heat play a very slow-paced game and are putting up a mere 93.5 PPG (3rd-worst in league) behind some solid shooting (45.5% FG, 11th in league). The slow pace has not allowed their opponents many chances to score as they are netting 96.7 PPG (4th in league) on 45.6% shooting (7th-worst in league).
SG Dwyane Wade (20.9 PPG, 5.2 APG, 1.1 SPG) returned from a seven-game hiatus due to injury after the All-Star break and has scored 16.8 PPG (39% FG) since coming back. He took 23 shots against New Orleans last week, making just eight (35% FG) as he totaled 19 points with four rebounds and four assists.
PG Goran Dragic (16.1 PPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 SPG) was a big addition for this Miami squad but seems to still be looking for his footing after a poor performance (8 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) against the Magic. The Pelicans were the first team he faced with his new club as he went for 12 points and three rebounds.
C Hassan Whiteside (10.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.4 BPG) is proving that he is the real deal with double-doubles in four of his last five games in which he averaged 13.4 PPG (55% FG), 13.2 RPG and 2.0 BPG. He was phenomenal against New Orleans on Saturday with 11 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks.
New Orleans sits right in the middle of the pack in nearly all stats as they are scoring 99.7 PPG (18th in league) on 45.4% shooting (14th in league). It is a similar story on the other side of the ball as they are giving up 99.4 PPG (16th in league) behind 45.9% shooting (5th-worst in league).
SG Tyreke Evans (16.6 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG) will need to carry this team over the next few weeks and has posted three double-doubles in the last four games as he shot a disappointing 18-of-53 (34% FG). He struggled against Miami with 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting and added six assists with three steals.
SG Eric Gordon (12.7 PPG, 3.9 APG) is coming off a poor performance against the Nets as he made a meager 2-of-11 attempts for eight points as he added six rebounds and four assists. He was the main piece in defeating the Heat in their last meeting as he totaled 24 points, six assists and four rebounds.
PG Norris Cole (6.7 PPG, 3.5 APG) was a much needed addition with Holiday out and has averaged 12.7 PPG with 4.0 APG over three contests with his new club. He opened this new chapter in his career with 12 points, six rebounds and a steal in the win over Miami.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
