Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Predictions, Odds & Picks

• The Houston Rockets are one of the hottest teams in the bubble, with two wins and a recent victory over the league leading Bucks!
• Portland is looking to avenge their recent late-game loss to the Boston Celtics.
• This will be the third game of eight seeding matches for both teams.

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Rockets vs Trail Blazers Odds

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Rockets vs Trail Blazers Predictions and Picks

If this were a pure shootout, it’d be a tough pick here. We’re taking the Houston Rockets as their recent defensive displays show promise beyond their usual run-and-gun style.

These two teams score the ball, period. But their scoring rate has been propped up by the fact that they’ve both played in overtime matches.

Picks:

Houston Rockets (-189)

Under 244.5 (-110)

How to Watch Rockets vs Trail Blazers

Houston Rockets (Away) Stats and Preview

The Houston Rockets have been impressive in their first two outings of the NBA’s return. They’ve opened the season with victories over Western Conference Rivals the Dallas Mavericks and NBA leaders the Milwaukee Bucks.

Russell Westbrook and James Harden have been fantastic so far. The two combined for 55 points, 15 assists, 13 rebounds, and six steals in their recent victory over Milwaukee.

Houston’s backcourt will be tested in a similar way to how they challenge other teams, as they face off with the Portland Trail Blazers and their high-scoring backcourt duo of McCollum and Lillard.

Rockets Roster Notes

(F) Bruno Caboclo – 1 August 2020 – Out (Ankle) – The Rockets listed Cabocio as OUT for Sunday’s game (Aug. 2) against the Bucks.

(G) Eric Gordon – 29 July 2020 – Out (Ankle) – Gordon is expected to miss the next two weeks with a left ankle sprain.

(F) Thabo Sefolosha – 1 July 2020 – Out (Undisclosed) – Sefolosha announced that he will not play in the NBA season restart in Orlando.

(F) David Nwaba – 23 June 2020 – Out For Season (Achilles) – Nwaba is recovering from an Achilles injury and will not play in the NBA season restart in Orlando.

Portland Trail Blazers (Home) Stats and Preview

So far the Portland Trail Blazers have looked like a team on a mission. They beat their chief playoff qualification rivals in the Memphis Grizzlies, but lost by a slim margin to one of the East’s best in the Boston Celtics.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum remain the primary point of focus for defences, but the unexpected contributions of center Jusuf Nurkic has fueled their competitiveness. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has contributed 48 points, 18 rebounds, and seven blocks in his first two games.

Already a poor defensive team, the Blazers will have to contend with a Rockets team with the league’s highest scoring backcourt in Harden and Westbrook.

Trail Blazers Roster Notes

(G) Jaylen Adams – 2 August 2020 – Out (Back) – The Trail Blazers listed Adams as out for Sunday’s game (Aug. 2) against the Celtics.

(G) Rodney Hood – 23 July 2020 – Out For Season (Achilles) – Hood is making progress as he recovers from left Achilles surgery, but the Trail Blazers say he will not play again this season.

(F) Caleb Swanigan – 1 July 2020 -Out (Personal) – Swanigan will not play when the NBA season restarts in Orlando.

(F) Trevor Ariza – 22 June 2020 – Out (Personal) – Ariza will not play when the NBA season restarts in Orlando.

What’s at Stake?

A win for the Houston Rockets would bring them within half a game of third in the Western Conference.

A win for the Portland Trail Blazers would push them to ninth overall in the Western Conference.

Over 195 meetings between these two teams, the Rockets lead the Blazers in the all-time series 107-88.

Dame Time Must Return

…how did he make this??@dame_lillard | #SlowMoSaturday

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/OIeoKAHXUd

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) August 1, 2020

In order for the Portland Trail Blazers to succeed, they’ll need an optimal performance from Damian Lillard. All cast members aside, Lillard is the most influential player on the Blazers. Backcourt teammate CJ McCollum is no slouch, but in the clutch, it’s all about Lillard.

In wins, Lillard averages 31 points and 8.0 assists on 49% shooting versus 26.8 points and 7.6 assists on 42.8% shooting in losses. Portland’s All-NBA point guard was gutted in their recent loss to the Celtics, saying he “Just over thought it”. Against the league’s highest-scoring backcourt, Lillard can’t have any mental lapses if they want to find their way into ninth place.

Houston’s Two-Way Play is Brilliant

Beard & Brodie combine for 55pts/15ast/13reb in the big win! pic.twitter.com/mEtqG78JOm

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) August 3, 2020

The Houston Rockets remain undefeated in bubble play and it is all due to their two-way effort. Despite the regular issue of being outmatched in the paint, their ability to run teams off the line and exploit their speed advantage on offense has done wonders in their first two games.

They were outscored in the paint 60-20 in their win against the Bucks, but they scored 63 points off of three-pointers to the Bucks’ 27. Holding their opponents to 9-35 from three isn’t too shabby either. So far, the Rockets have been able to capitalize on their quickness advantage. Against a similarly adept offensive team in Portland, the Rockets will have their biggest test of the season.