An NBA game day preview between the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Where: ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex, Kissimmee, FL
TV: TNT
Odds: HOU -4.5 O/U 242.5
Houston Rockets
Record: 42-24
Away Record: 19-14
Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 30-38
Home Record: 19-14
Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazers Game Day Preview
It’ll be a battle of two of the best duos in basketball when the Rockets take on the Trail Blazers Tuesday night on TNT. Rockets’ MVP duo, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, face off against Blazers’ backcourt, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. While the Rockets are gearing up for the playoffs, the Blazers are still fighting for a playoff spot. The Blazers lead the season series with the Rockets, 2-1.
Houston Rockets
Houston comes into this after what might be their biggest win of the season, defeating the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks. The Rockets’ small-ball lineup is working more than a lot of analysts expected but it will only continue to work if the Rockets score a ton of points. They are averaging over 118 points per game this season and had to score 120 to beat the Bucks.
The Rockets’ leading scorer, James Harden, only scored 24 points in that game but he is averaging 34.4 points a game this year. While the Bucks have one of the best defenses in basketball, Portland not so much. So expect Harden to get back to his scoring ways against the Blazers.
Portland Trail Blazers
This is a very big game for the Blazers. As a matter of fact, every game is now huge for the Blazers. They currently sit 2 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the 8 seed in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies have been terrible since the season re-started so the Blazers still have a decent chance at making the playoffs. But they can’t continue to lose close games as they did against the Celtics on Sunday.
For the Blazers to make the playoffs, the need Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum to not be Batman & Robin. They need them to be Batman & Superman. Both Lillard AND McCollum need to play like superstars for the next two weeks if they want take that 8 seed. Lillard scored 30 against the Celtics while McCollum only scored 17. McCollum needs to step up against the Rockets if the Blazers want to win. Having Jusuf Nurkic back improves this team greatly. He put up 30 points in the loss to the Celtics.
Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazers Facts & Fantasy Basketball Predictions
Rockets vs. Blazers Facts
- Houston is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
- The TOTAL has gone UNDER in 4 of the last 6 Rockets’ games.
- The TOTAL has gone UNDER in 6 of Portland’s last 7 games against Houston.
StatementGames Fantasy Basketball Picks
- Portland Trail Blazers UNDER 120.5 PTS
- Portland Trail Blazers OVER 13.5 Three Pt FGS
- Houston Rockets OVER 20.5 Three Pt FGS
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