Steve Merril
Tuesday, Mar. 8
NBA
(3% play) WASHINGTON +5.5 (at Portland) - 10:05 pm ET (NBA-tv) #709
Washington had a nice 4-game winning streak going prior to losing their last two games to Indiana and Cleveland. Their last loss came at home versus the Pacers, but that defeat came by just a single point (100-99). The Wizards will now hit the road and begin a 3-game road trip in Portland tonight. Washington’s next three games are all critically important for their playoff hopes, and since they are coming off a home loss, we expect a peak performance by the Wizards tonight. Washington’s offense was in excellent form prior to their last two games; the Wizards had scored 103 points or more in six consecutive games. Their offensive success will return tonight against a Portland team that has allowed 356 total points in their last three games. Since the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers’ defense has given up 102 points or more in eight of ten games. Overall, Portland has allowed 107.7 points per game to their opponents since the break.
Portland was one of the hottest teams in the NBA from mid-January to the beginning of March. The Trail Blazers went 18-4 SU over a 22-game span, but most of those wins came against inferior opponents. Things have turned sour for Portland as they come into tonight on a 3-game losing streak with two of the losses coming by 23 and 20 points. Portland was expected to be one of the worst teams in the league after losing four of their five starters from last year’s team. But the Trail Blazers overachieved greatly during their recent run, and now it’s time for them to regress. Portland is returning home off a 6-game road trip, and they’ve had just one day to settle in. Washington comes into tonight’s game with two full days of rest, so they have a scheduling advantage over Portland. The Trail Blazers are overvalued right now, so we’ll take Washington plus the points in this game on Tuesday night.
Play WIZARDS (+) as a 3% play.
No College Plays tonight
Tuesday, Mar. 8
NBA
(3% play) WASHINGTON +5.5 (at Portland) - 10:05 pm ET (NBA-tv) #709
Washington had a nice 4-game winning streak going prior to losing their last two games to Indiana and Cleveland. Their last loss came at home versus the Pacers, but that defeat came by just a single point (100-99). The Wizards will now hit the road and begin a 3-game road trip in Portland tonight. Washington’s next three games are all critically important for their playoff hopes, and since they are coming off a home loss, we expect a peak performance by the Wizards tonight. Washington’s offense was in excellent form prior to their last two games; the Wizards had scored 103 points or more in six consecutive games. Their offensive success will return tonight against a Portland team that has allowed 356 total points in their last three games. Since the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers’ defense has given up 102 points or more in eight of ten games. Overall, Portland has allowed 107.7 points per game to their opponents since the break.
Portland was one of the hottest teams in the NBA from mid-January to the beginning of March. The Trail Blazers went 18-4 SU over a 22-game span, but most of those wins came against inferior opponents. Things have turned sour for Portland as they come into tonight on a 3-game losing streak with two of the losses coming by 23 and 20 points. Portland was expected to be one of the worst teams in the league after losing four of their five starters from last year’s team. But the Trail Blazers overachieved greatly during their recent run, and now it’s time for them to regress. Portland is returning home off a 6-game road trip, and they’ve had just one day to settle in. Washington comes into tonight’s game with two full days of rest, so they have a scheduling advantage over Portland. The Trail Blazers are overvalued right now, so we’ll take Washington plus the points in this game on Tuesday night.
Play WIZARDS (+) as a 3% play.
No College Plays tonight
