Western Conference Playoff Push – Utah at Portland

BetOnline NBA Betting Odds: PORTLAND -6, Total 192.5

Here are some of the NBA betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* UTAH has covered two of its last nine games

* UTAH has won five of its last six games SU

* UTAH has played 14 of its last 19 games UNDER the total

* UTAH has covered one of its last five road games

* UTAH has lost four of its last five road games SU

* UTAH has played four of its last six road games UNDER the total

* PORT has covered six of its last seven games

* PORT has won five of its last seven games SU

* PORT has covered four of its last six home games

* PORT has won 15 of its last 17 home games SU

* PORT has played five of its last six home games OVER the total

Also…

* PORT has won and covered the last five meetings as the home team

* Three of the last four meetings in Portland have gone UNDER the total

* PORT has had the rebounding edge in three of the last four meetings

* PORT has made more three-pointers in each of the last seven meetings

Here’s the update: Utah and Portland are currently tied for fifth place in the Western Conference, and while they’re only a half a game ahead of the New Orleans Hornets , they’re also a game and a half behind the Nuggets and Rockets. Things are very tight in the conference, and so this game takes on all that much more meaning.

This series has been dominated by the home team, which has won and covered the last six meetings. That’s a trend Portland welcomes, because the Blazers are a solid 22-14 ATS at the Rose Garden this season, and have destroyed Phoenix and Memphis by 20 points apiece in the last two contests at the Rose Garden. Brandon Roy is lighting it up, as he’s hit 53% or better from the field in three of his last four games, and LeMarcus Aldridge has 71 points, 31 rebounds and seven blocks in his last three outings.

Utah is 5-1 in its last six games, but the Jazz is still not operating on all cylinders. Carlos Boozer has not really regained his offensive touch; the 6’9" former All-Star power forward has averaged only 13 points since coming back from his knee injury, and has connected on just 43% of his shots in his last five games. That’s just not Boozer, who has always been a high-percentage shooter. There’s Portland has a decisive scheduling edge here, as they have had two days of rest while Utah is coming off a win hosting the New York Knicks last night. That’s an important handicapping factor when you consider that the Jazz is just 5-12 ATS when playing the second end of back-to-back games.

There is no doubt this game will be hotly-contested. In the end, though, it’s a Portland team that is better rested and enjoying the comforts of home, and the six-point favorite in the BetOnline NBA pro basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: PORTLAND -6 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)