Sunday’s only NBA game pits Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder against an improved Portland Trail Blazers side.
Portland are on their best run of the season, having won their last four matches. They’ve returned with three wins from three from an East Coast road trip, but can they close the gap to the side with the league’s best record?
Isaiah Hartenstein over 21.5 combined points and rebounds (-115)
Adding free agent Isaiah Hartenstein has been a huge boost for the Thunder, who clearly lacked that frontcourt depth against the Dallas Mavericks in last season’s play-offs. The former New York Knick has been soaking up a lot of minutes in Chet Holmgren’s absence, averaging 11.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.
His combined total for those two games is below his season average of 23, but this clash looks favourable to Hartenstein. Not only will he get good opportunities against a Portland side which ranks 26th in Defensive Rating, but he’s also matching up with rookie center Donovan Clingan.
Clingan has been pushed into the starting lineup with Deandre Ayton absent, but Ayton is the only Portland player averaging double-figures in terms of rebounds. The Trail Blazers are a poor rebounding team even with Ayton - ranking 22nd across the league in that regard.
Hartenstein should cause problems for Clingan and he can post some strong numbers off the glass here. Take him to record a combined 22 points and rebounds on Sunday.
Portland Trail Blazers over 106.5 points (-115)
Portland have put together an encouraging run of late, which has put the likes of Anfernee Simons in the shop window ahead of the trade deadline. They have had a kind schedule with visits to Miami, Orlando and Charlotte, but the Trail Blazers should be feeling confident following their best run of the season.
Expect Portland to find some joy against a Thunder side who are missing perimeter defender Lu Dort through injury.
Portland scored 114 points in a defeat to the Thunder when these two last met at Moda Center, a game which they still lost by 13 points.
The Trail Blazers should take a lot of encouragement from their East Coast trip, while they boast one of the league’s best records with a rest disadvantage. Going into this game with momentum from a great run should spur them on, so back them to trouble an injury-hit Thunder side.
Alex Caruso over 6.5 points (+100)
With Lu Dort out, Alex Caruso should step into the starting lineup for the Thunder. That would mean a minutes increase for the former LA Laker, who is averaging 5.8 points per game.
Dort averages 29 minutes per game to Caruso’s 19 and the Canadian has averaged 9.7 points this season.
Caruso’s career average jumps to 8.3 points per game as a starter, compared to 6 when he’s coming off the bench. He started 57 games for the Bulls last season, averaging 10.3 points per game in those matches.
With an expanded role and more time mixed in with the starters, Caruso can clear a line of 6.5 points against one of the league’s weakest defenses.
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Oklahoma City Thunder | -909 |
Portland Trail Blazers | +575 |
Spread | Thunder -13.5 (-110) |
Total Points | Over 225.5 (-110) |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC Thunder) | O/U 31.5 |
Jalen Williams (OKC Thunder) | O/U 20.5 |
Anfernee Simons (POR Trail Blazers) | O/U 19.5 |
Deni Avdija (POR Trail Blazers) | O/U 14.5 |
Shaedon Sharpe (POR Trail Blazers) | O/U 13.5 |
Jerami Grant (POR Trail Blazers) | O/U 13.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.