Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
New York Knicks vs Portland Trail Blazers: Can Portland win on back-to-back nights?
The New York Knicks are visiting the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday at Moda Center.
The Knicks are starting a four-game road trip
The New York Knicks are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 38-27 record. They have won three of the last five games and are coming off a 106-79 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks are second in the league, allowing 86 field goals per game, and are also ranked second, allowing 108.3 points per game. Jalen Brunson is the best player on the Knicks, averaging 26.9 points and 6.6 assists per game.
The Blazers can focus on the next season
The Portland Trail Blazers are 14th in the Western Conference with a 19-46 record. They have won two of the last three games and are coming off a 106-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks last night. The Blazers are in the bottom three teams in the league, scoring 108 points per game on 44.1% shooting from the field. Anfernee Simons leads the team with 22.7 points per game.
Betting Trends
Portland has won 6 of the last 7 home games against New York, while the Knicks have won 4 of the last 6 games against the Blazers overall. Portland has played over the total point line in 4 of the last 6 games and in 6 of the last 9 games played in March.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Blazers are going through a rebuilding mode, and seeing them near the bottom of the West does not surprise anybody. They play with no pressure at all, and they managed to beat the Hawks last night even without Jerami Grant in the lineup. The Knicks are coming tonight at Moda Center, beginning a four-game road trip that is very important for them as they are trying to stay in the top four in the conference. The Knicks are struggling with injuries lately, with both Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson III being out for a while now. There are two teams that play at a slower pace, and that’s why the total point line is set at 207 for this game. That is simply too low, and the final score will go over it.
