NBA Basketball
2012-03-07 - Portland T-Blazers at Minnesota T-Wolves
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball
Wednesday 7 March 2012 - Tip Off 8pm ET
1am (British Standard Time)
Preview
This game has huge implications for the Western Conference Play Off picture, even though there are still a few weeks before that actually begins. The Portland Trail Blazers (19-19) will need to improve their record on the road if they are to achieve their aims, beginning with this trip to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves (20-19).
Minnesota play the second of their four game homestand, although they are only 11-10 here this season. However, they have won 4 in a row at the Target Center and have shown some toughness and guts in winning their last 3 by a combined 4 points.
Portland have struggled out of the All-Star break, losing their first 3 games although they did beat the struggling New Orleans Hornets in their last home game. They come to Minnesota with an exceptional record, winning their last 5 at the Target Center by an average of 17.2 points per game.
Kevin Love will be hoping to continue his hot form after scoring 39 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in the last game he played against the LA Clippers on Monday night. That followed a season high 42 points in a visit to Portland when he also added 10 boards.
Nikola Pekovic has been a real revelation at Minnesota in recent games and he should return to the rotation after being rested with a sore foot on Monday night.
Nate McMillan has admitted his Portland team need to improve their 5-12 record on the road as they begin this 5 game road trip. They have struggled offensively on the road, failing to score 100 points on the road in 12 consecutive games, their longest stretch since the 2006-07 season.
Head to Head
Portland had won 16 games in a row in the series before the defeat to Minnesota in their last meeting.
The Trail Blazers have won 8 in a row on the road at Minnesota.
Minnesota are 9-17 against the spread in the last 26 games in the series.
Minnesota are 9-12 against the spread at home this season, Portland are 6-11 on the road.
Prediction
I am going to back to the Over total points in this one for the following reasons:
First, neither one of these teams is great defensively and they have and they have combined for over 200 points in 5 of their last 6 meetings in the series.
Second, the Over is 4-2 in Portland's last 6 games.
Third, at least one of the teams have scored 100 points in 10 of the last 12 games that Portland and Minnesota have competed in.
The Pick :
Minnesota T-Wolves 104-105 Portland T-Blazers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 195.5 Points @ 1.92 (Ladbrokes)
