Memphis Visits Portland with 2-0 Series Lead
Game 3 of the best of seven NBA Western Conference quarterfinals series between the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers will tip off Saturday night from the Moda Center in Portland. Memphis won Games 1 and 2 at home to open the series making this a crucial game for the Trail Blazers.
The current line has Portland favored at home by 3 points with the point total currently on 188.5.
The Trail Blazers can still make this a competitive series with the Grizzlies but must win Game 3. Memphis defeated Portland by double digits in both of the first two games of the series.
It appears that the physical style of play by Memphis is too much for Portland to handle as the Trail Blazers have lost each of the six head-to-head games with Memphis. In Game 1 Portland trailed by 29 points at one time and by 18 points in Game 2.
LeMarcus Aldridge the star power forward for Portland has carried his weight averaging 28 points per game and 14 rebounds per contest. However, his shooting of 37% from the floor is way down from his season average.
Mike Conley the point guard for Memphis has had two straight strong games while nursing a right foot sprain that kept him on the sidelines for the last four regular season games.
Conley is averaging 17 points per game in the first two games, but more importantly has out played Portland’s star point guard Damien Lillard.
Portland hopes to have Arron Afflalo a shooting guard back for the game. Afflalo missed the first two games of the series with an injured shoulder. However, the most important thing for Portland is for Lillard to return to the way he played all season. Lillard has hit just 10 of his 37 shots from the field including 1 out of 11 from 3-point territory.
Memphis committed only a combined 14 turnovers in Games 1 and 2. Chris Kaman a center for Portland is questionable with back and ankle injuries for Game 3.
Beno Udrih a guard for Memphis is averaging 15 points per game in Games 1 and 2 of the series. However, he is questionable in this game due to an ankle injury.
The UNDER has cashed in each of the past 4 games between the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers.
Memphis is 10-1 against the number in its past 11 games versus Portland.
Memphis is 5-1 against the spread over its past 6 games played in Portland.
The favorite has covered the spread in 4 of the past 5 games between the two teams.
The team at home has covered the spread in 4 of the past 5 games between the two teams.
Pick: Portland to win 95-88
