The Portland Trail Blazers, who have not played since the Thursday before the All-Star break, will host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight. This is the first meeting between these two Western Conference foes this season, but Portland has won the last three get togethers, dating back to 2007. The game is scheduled to get under way at 10:00pm ET at the Rose Garden in Portland, OR.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Portland Trail Blazers NBA Picks at SBGglobal.com have the road Grizzlies pegged as a +11.5 against the spread underdog.
Memphis is in the throws of another forgettable season as they occupy last place in the Southwest division. The Grizzlies, despite having some good, young talent, are just 15-38 on the year and they are 9-25 against Western Conference opposition.
They enter this evening's game having lost three of their last five contests, including a 117-99 bombing at Utah before the break. The Jazz had 24 assists against the Grizzlies porous defense and they created 18 Memphis turnovers. On the bright side for Memphis was the 38 combined points from Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo.
The Trail Blazers, unlike their opponent tonight, actually have something to play for as the season heads into the home stretch. Portland, who has won seven of their last 10 games, is in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, just three and three and a half games back of the Nuggets and Spurs respectively. They are also in second place in the Northwest division and within striking distance of the first place Nuggets at 32-20.
Portland did fall in their last outing 98-105 at Golden State, in spite of 37 points from Brandon Roy. The Warriors forced 23 turnovers and hit 44.4 percent of their three point attempts in foiling the Trail Blazers shot at three consecutive wins.
Nate McMillian's team is 20-5 this season at the Rose Garden. They are scoring an average of 102.1 points per game there and holding antagonists to a paltry 93.4 per contest.
SBGglobal.com's Memphis Grizzlies vs Portland Trail Blazers NBA Picks:
Memphis Grizzlies +11.5 (-110), Over 194.5 (-110), +600 (Moneyline)
Portland Trail Blazers -11.5 (-110), Under 194.5 (-110), -800 (Moneyline)
NBA Picks Betting Trend: Portland is 9-1 straight up in their last 10 games as a home favorite with a spread between 11 and 13.5. Memphis is 0-9 straight up and 7-2 against the spread in their last 10 as a road dog with a spread between 11 and 13.5 and total between 190 and 195. Memphis is 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games as a road dog versus Portland. The Under is 8-1-1 in the Grizzlies last 10 games as a road dog versus Portland.
