The Houston Rockets (27-35) travel to face off against the Portland Trail Blazers (17-44) on Friday, March 8th. This game will be played at Moda Center in Portland and televised on ROOT. Both the Rockets and Trail Blazers will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Tip off is scheduled for 10:00 ET.

Rockets vs Trail Blazers

The Rockets Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

The Rockets is coming off a loss to the Clippers in their latest game, ending with a score of 122-116. The start of the second half saw the Rockets in the lead, at 57-44.

In non-conference play, the Rockets have gone 8-16 and are 19-19 against Western Conference opponents. Overall, the Rockets are 27-35 this season and are hoping to get a win against the Trail Blazers.

Currently, Houston holds an above .500 ATS record of 33-28 so far this year. This season, Houston has a 13-7 record against the spread when they are favored, and they are 20-21 when playing as underdogs.

The Trail Blazers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Portland’s most recently played the Thunder and lost with a final score of 128-120. Despite losin the game straight-up, the Trail Blazers did cover the spread as +13 point underdogs. The over/under line for this matchup was set at 224.5 points, and the teams managed to exceed that total.

Heading into their matchup with the Rockets, the Trail Blazers are 17-44 overall and are looking to snap their two-game losing streak. In Western Conference games, the Trail Blazers are 8-34 compared to a 9-10 record in non-conference matchups.

Portland comes in with an overall ATS record of 29-32 so far this season. Portland has covered the spread in five straight road games and are 17-14 ATS on the road compared to 12-18 at home.

Rockets Offense Breakdown

Houston has recorded an average of 112.9 points per game (21st) throughout 62 games games.

On the season, the Rockets are 21st in the NBA in scoring at 112.9 points per game. However, they have been a better offensive team on the road, averaging 110.5 points compared to 115.0 at home.

So far, Houston has outscored the NBA scoring average in 37.1% of their games. In terms of pace, they are 13th at 99.4 possessions per game.

When it comes to shooting, the Rockets are 28th in field goal percentage at 45%. They are also below average in three-point shooting at 34% (29th).

Trail Blazers Offense Breakdown

In 61 games games, Portland has an average of 107.8 points per game (28th).

This season, the Trail Blazers are 28th in the NBA in scoring at 107.8 points per game. At home, they are averaging 108.9 points per game.

Portland is 29th in the league in field goal percentage at 44%. In terms of three-point shooting, they are 26th in three-point percentage at 35%.

So far, the Trail Blazers have outscored the NBA scoring average in just 26.2% of their games. They are also last in the league in assists at 22.9 per game.

Rockets Team Defense

Coming into the game, the Rockets defense has held opposing team’s to fewer points than the league average in 43.5% of their games. Currently, they are 11th in the NBA at 112.9 points per game allowed. In their previous game, the Rockets’ defense struggled against the Clippers, giving up 122 points on a field goal percentage of 55%.

Trail Blazers Team Defense

Currently, the Trail Blazers’ defense holds the 17th rank in the NBA, allowing 115.9 points per game. The Portland defense has allowed opponents to shoot 35.2% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 49.5% of their field goal attempts vs. Portland.

Key Players For The Rockets And Trail Blazers

Our game forecasts for today suggest that Alperen Sengün is set to be the main scorer for the Rockets, recording 20 points and shooting 8/15 from the field. During this season, he is delivering an average of 21.3 points per game, along with 9.4 rebounds.

On the flip side, our predictions place Anfernee Simons as the leading scorer for the Trail Blazers. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 22 while also collecting 3 rebounds. Throughout the season, he has maintained a 43% field goal shooting rate and is averaging 22.8 points per game.

Rockets vs Trail Blazers Trends

• Houston has a 1-2 record in their last three road games. In this stretch, they averaged 106 points per game while allowing 110. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
• Portland has played well in their previous three home games, going 2-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 114 points per game while allowing 103. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-0.
• Through their last five games as the betting underdog, the Trail Blazers have a strong record vs the spread going 4-1. Their straight up mark in these contests is 2-3.
• Houston has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.

Rockets vs Trail Blazers Prediction

The Trail Blazers come in as the underdog at +5.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 218.5 and our model has the Rockets and Trail Blazers finishing with a combined 213 points. Our pick is to take the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* 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.