Vegas Line at this writing: Toronto -2 (205)
Tonight, third in the East meets third in the West as the Portland Trailblazers face the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The 43-20 Blazers are three games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the two seed in the West and two games in the loss column better than the fourth place Houston Rockets. Portland is 7-3 in its L10 and 2-1 since losing Wesley Mathews (15.9 ppg.) for the season to an achilles injury March 6th. Toronto is off a 102-92 win over Miami after going 1-10 in their previous 11 games. The Raptors are two games behind Cleveland for second place in the East and percentage points ahead of the Bulls for third in conference with two games in hand.
The Trailblazers are 7-3 SU and ATS in their L10 and start ab five-game road trip against the East plus Memphis. Portland has won 11 of the L12 in the series including the first leg this year, a 102-97 (-2.5, 209.5) decision at the Rose Center back on December 30th. Both teams shot 40% for the game but the Blazers knocked down 12 threes to Toronto’s four. Portland is 3-8 ATS in their L11. The Over is 5-2 in the Raptors L7 games overall, the Under is in four of the Raptors L5 home games.
Portland:
The Blazers are led by the “forgotten” MVP candidate LaMarcus Aldridge. The eight-year PF out of Texas is averaging 23.3 ppg. and 10.5 boards while shooting 45% from the field. Aldridge is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and will get a max deal no matter where he winds up. Damian Lilliard has gone from a highly touted prospect from little Weber State to an elite five PG averaging 21.4/6.8 per game. Neil Olshey must have had a crystal ball in picking up Arron Affalo before the trade deadline as he’s stepped right in for the aforementioned injured Wesley Mathews. Portland has a strong bench, especially in the front court.
Toronto:
The Raptors were without question the surprise in the NBA before hitting their recent skid. Toronto is guard heavy dependent, led by shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (18.9, 4.2, 3.2) and point guard Kyle Lowery (18.3, 4.6, 6.9) who is also one of the league’s better defensive guards. SG Lou Williams (15.1, 1.9, 1.9) will get consideration as the league’s top sixth man and provides instant offense off the bench in his 24 minutes per off the pine. Center Jonas Valaciunas (12.1, 8.6) missed the last game but is probable here.
Allen’s Angles
The Trailblazers are 1-4 this year as a road dog of 1-3 points
Portland is 17-10 ATS in L27 vs the Atlantic Division, 5-3 this year
The Over is 13-3 when Portland is getting points
The Under is 16-8 when the Blazers are off a double-digit win
The Raptor are 8-15 ATS off a double-digit win
Toronto is 17-10 ATS in L27 vs the Northwest Division, 5-2 this year
Toronto is 6-12 ATS in L18 as a home fave of 1-3 points, 0-1 this year
The Under is 19-13 in games where Raptors play winning records