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(NBA) Detroit vs. Portland,
Point Spread: -2.50 | -110.00 Portland (Home)
Result: Push
Point Spread: -2.50 | -110.00 Portland (Home)
Result: Push
The set-up: The 16-22 Portland Trail Blazers will play host to the 17-21 Detroit Pistons at Moda Center on Saturday night. Portland's All-Star PG Damian Lillard returned in the Blazers' 118-109 home victory over the LA Lakers on Thursday. He played 36 minutes, contributing 21 points and 10 assists, after missing the previous five games with a sprained left ankle. Lillard said he will be good to go Saturday night against the Pistons. Detroit arrives in Portland off Thursday's 115-114 home victory over Charlotte, in which the Hornets roared back with a 44-point fourth quarter to nearly steal a win. The Pistons open a five-game road trip with this contest.
Detroit: The Pistons have not played too well on the road, opening this road trip 7-12 SU & ATS away from home so far. Detroit nearly lost to the Hornets on Thursday, despite leading by 19 points with 10 minutes left. "We played a great three quarters," Detroit head coach Stan Van Gundy said afterward. "I'll talk about that." Van Gundy also raved about Boban Marjanovic, who came out of nowhere with a season high in points (15) and a career high in rebounds (19) in 22 minutes off the bench. The 7-3, 290-pound Serbian -- given an opportunity with backup center Aron Baynes out with an ankle sprain and starter Andre Drummond in foul trouble, had totaled seven points and seven rebounds in the previous seven games. The Pistons have six players averaging between 11.2 and 16.6 PPG and getting important contributions outside of that group has been rare.
Portland: C.J. McCollum, Lillard's backcourt partner, had scored 43 and 35 points in the last two games while running the point in Lillard's absence but moved back to his normal shooting guard position and collected 27 points and seven assists in Thursday's win. "Makes the game much easier when Dame's on the floor," said McCollum. "The defense can't key in on me as much when he's out there." Lillard (26.8-4.5-6.3) and McCollom (23.3) give the Blazers one of the league's best backcourts.
The pick: The Blazers are a poor defensive team (111.2 PPG allowed ranks 28th) but with Lillard back healthy, I don't believe the Pistons, who average just 99.6 PPG (24th) on the season (including 98.7 on teheroad), can match points with Portland here at Moda Center. The number is very reasonable, so lay the small points and make Portland an 8* play.
Detroit: The Pistons have not played too well on the road, opening this road trip 7-12 SU & ATS away from home so far. Detroit nearly lost to the Hornets on Thursday, despite leading by 19 points with 10 minutes left. "We played a great three quarters," Detroit head coach Stan Van Gundy said afterward. "I'll talk about that." Van Gundy also raved about Boban Marjanovic, who came out of nowhere with a season high in points (15) and a career high in rebounds (19) in 22 minutes off the bench. The 7-3, 290-pound Serbian -- given an opportunity with backup center Aron Baynes out with an ankle sprain and starter Andre Drummond in foul trouble, had totaled seven points and seven rebounds in the previous seven games. The Pistons have six players averaging between 11.2 and 16.6 PPG and getting important contributions outside of that group has been rare.
Portland: C.J. McCollum, Lillard's backcourt partner, had scored 43 and 35 points in the last two games while running the point in Lillard's absence but moved back to his normal shooting guard position and collected 27 points and seven assists in Thursday's win. "Makes the game much easier when Dame's on the floor," said McCollum. "The defense can't key in on me as much when he's out there." Lillard (26.8-4.5-6.3) and McCollom (23.3) give the Blazers one of the league's best backcourts.
The pick: The Blazers are a poor defensive team (111.2 PPG allowed ranks 28th) but with Lillard back healthy, I don't believe the Pistons, who average just 99.6 PPG (24th) on the season (including 98.7 on teheroad), can match points with Portland here at Moda Center. The number is very reasonable, so lay the small points and make Portland an 8* play.
