The Oklahoma City Thunder (42-19) travel to face off against the Portland Trail Blazers (17-43) on Wednesday, March 6th. This game will be played at Moda Center in Portland and televised on ROOT. Both the Thunder and Trail Blazers will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Tip off is scheduled for 10:00 ET.
Thunder vs Trail Blazers
The Thunder Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 20 points against the Lakers, the highest on the team. He finished with a field goal percentage of 39.4% in the game. Chet Holmgren added 15 points, but unfortunately, Oklahoma City was defeated in the game with a score of 116-104.
With a record of 42-19, the Thunder are above .500 as they prepare to take on the Trail Blazers. So far, they are 26-15 against other teams in the Western Conference and 16-4 in non-conference play.
Oklahoma City has an ATS record above .500, currently standing at 39-22 against the spread. This season, Oklahoma City has a 28-17 record against the spread when they are favored, and they are 11-5 when playing as underdogs.
The Trail Blazers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Most recently, the Trail Blazers lost to the Timberwolves with a final score of 119-114. The Trail Blazers may have lost the game outright, but they did succeed in covering the spread as +16 point underdogs. The over/under line heading into this matchup was 210.5 points in which the two teams surpassed.
Over their last ten games, the Trail Blazers have gone 2-8 and have an overall record of 17-43. Currently, the Trail Blazers are in 14th place in the Western Conference and sit 5th in the Northwest division.
Portland comes in with an overall ATS record of 28-32 so far this season. As the favorite this season, Portland is 1-5 vs. the spread while going 27-27 as the underdog.
Thunder Offense Breakdown
Today, the Thunder enter the game as one of the NBA’s top-scoring teams, averaging 120.9 points per game (4th).
The Thunder are one of the most efficient shooting teams in the NBA, ranking 2nd in field goal percentage at 50%. They also lead the league in three-point shooting at 39%.
Despite being one of the top-scoring teams in the league, the Thunder have struggled on the offensive glass, ranking 29th in offensive rebounds.
On the road, Oklahoma City is averaging 118.3 points per game, which is 5th in the league.
Trail Blazers Offense Breakdown
This season, the Portland offense is ranked 28th in the NBA in scoring at 107.6 points per game.
When it comes to scoring, the Blazers are 28th in the NBA, averaging 107.6 points per game. At home, they are averaging 108.5 points per game. Overall, they have outscored the NBA scoring average in just 25% of their games.
Portland is 20th in pace at 97.8 possessions per game. In terms of field goal percentage, they are 29th in the league at 44%. They are also last in the NBA in true shooting percentage.
When it comes to three-point shooting, the Blazers are 27th in the league at 35%. They are averaging 11.6 three-pointers made per game, which is 24th in the NBA. In terms of assists, Portland is last in the league at 22.8 per game.
Thunder Team Defense
At present, the Thunder’s defense is ranked 13th, allowing 113.3 points per game. On two point field goal attempts, the Thunder’s defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 51.4% and allowing 36.7% from beyond the arc.
Trail Blazers Team Defense
On the defensive side, Trail Blazers is currently hovering around the NBA’s average for points allowed, conceding an average of 115.6 points per game. Portland’s defense is currently forcing 14.2 turnovers per game, which is 26th in the league. Additionally, they enter the game ranked 25th in blocked shots, with an average of 4.5 rejections per game.
Key Players For The Thunder And Trail Blazers
Our projections for today’s game indicate that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the primary scorer for the Thunder, with 30 points and going 11/20 from the field. For the season, he has been averaging 31.1 points per game, in addition to 5.6 rebounds.
On the other side, Anfernee Simons is our projected leading scorer for the Trail Blazers. We have him ending the game with a team-high 22 and grabbing 3 rebounds. For the season, he has a field goal percentage of 42.7% and is averaging 22.7 points per contest.
Thunder vs Trail Blazers Trends
- Across their three previous road games, Oklahoma City has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-2 while averaging 113 points per game.
- Through their last ten home contests, the Trail Blazers offense has averaged 110 points per game while allowing an average of 115. Portland posted an overall record of 3-7 while going 7-3 ATS.
- The Trail Blazers have played well in their last three games as the betting underdog, going 2-1 straight up and 3-0 against the spread.
- Through their last five games as the favorite, the Thunder have an ATS record of 3-2 and a straight up mark of 3-2.
Thunder vs Trail Blazers Prediction
When looking to get a point-spread pick down in this Thunder vs. Trail Blazers game, our recommendation is to take the Trail Blazers at +12.5. Despite our model showing the Thunder winning 116-106, we like Trail Blazers as our point-spread pick.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 224 and our model has the Thunder and Trail Blazers finishing with a combined 222 points. Our pick is to take the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:March 6, 2024 Portland Trail Blazers, Thunder