Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns 12/16/19 NBA Betting Odds and Prediction

The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Phoenix Suns at the Talking Stick Resort Arena on Monday night.

The Blazers head to Phoenix having lost three out of their last four games played. In their last game, Portland lost by 15 points to the Denver Nuggets. On the other hand, the suns have won just two out of their last five games played and are coming off a close two-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs in overtime. This will be the first of four matches between these two teams this season. Portland defeated Phoenix 127-120 in their most recent meeting last March 9, 2019, in Portland.

Blazers Road Woes

The Portland Trail Blazers made the Western Conference Finals last season but if the playoffs started now, they would miss the playoffs with their 10-16 record. The Blazers’ road woes can be blamed for their struggles as they are just 5-10 away from the Moda Center this season. Portland will go home for a four-game homestand but only after they take on the Suns in Phoenix on Monday night.

Damian Lillard leads the Blazers at 26.3 points and 7.5 assists per game this season. C.J. McCollum is 21.4 points per game while Hassan Whiteside is having a double-double season with 16.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Carmelo Anthony has been a good addition at 16.3 points per game.

The Blazers are 10th in the league in scoring at 112.3 points per game this season. They are ranked 8th in rebounding at 46.3 boards grabbed per contest and they are also 29th in passing at 20.2 assists per game. Portland has the 9th worst scoring defense in the NBA this season at 114.3 points per game.

Suns Are a Surprise

The Phoenix Suns are a surprise team in their first season under head coach Monty Williams. The Suns are 11-14 SU this season and if the postseason began today, they would sneak in as the 8th seed in the Western Conference. The Suns are, however, 6-9 SU on the road and will have a tough task ahead against the Blazers.

Devin Booker leads the Suns in scoring at 25.0 points per game this season. Kelly Oubre Jr. is having a fine year with 17.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while Ricky Rubio is scoring 13.8 points while also dishing off a team-high 9.4 assists. Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky are also scoring in double figures for the Suns.

The Suns are the 5th best scoring team this season at 115.5 points per game. They are the top passing team in the NBA at 28.4 assists per game and the Suns are ranked 25th in rebounding at 43.1 boards grabbed per contest. Phoenix is allowing the 8th most points per game this season at 114.3 points allowed.

Who Wins?

Portland is 2-4 SU in their last six games played. The Blazers are 1-6 SU in their last seven games played on the road. Phoenix is 4-10 SU in their last 14 games played. The Suns are 1-6 SU in their last seven games played at home. Head to head, the Blazers have won the last 10 meetings between these two teams. The Blazers are also 5-1 SU in their last six home games against the Suns.

The Blazers’ dynamic duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are healthy. The addition of Carmelo Anthony has given Portland an additional scoring punch. With Hassan Whiteside also playing well, the Blazers should be a handful for the undermanned Suns to handle, even on the road.

Phoenix is already without DeAndre Ayton who is suspended. They will be without leading man Devin Booker who is out with an injured forearm. Kelly Oubre and Ricky Rubio will lead the Suns while Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky are expected to help out the Suns in trying to stop the Blazers.

Portland will be without Rodney Hood but they have their top four best players on hand for this game. Ayton will be back later this week and Booker is out with an injury. More than Ayton, the Suns will miss Booker’s 25 points per game. The Phoenix backcourt will be outscored badly here and the Blazers will pick up the win on the road.

Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers

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Other Bets to Make

Portland is 2-5 ATS in their last seven games played. The Blazers are 7-8 ATS in 15 road games played this season, 1-4 ATS in their last five games against the Western Conference, and 1-5 ATS in their last six games against the Pacific Division. Phoenix is 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games played. The Suns are 7-7-1 ATS in 15 home games played this season, 4-1 ATS in their last five games played against the Northwest Division, and 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 December games. Head to head, the Suns are 4-2 ATS in their last six games played against the Blazers.

The Blazers have outscored the Suns by an average of 13.2 points per game in their last 10 games played. Phoenix will be without Devin Booker here as the Suns’ top gunner has a forearm injury. On the other hand, Portland’s top four scorers are well and healthy and the Suns won’t have an answer for Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

Prediction: Blazers -1

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The total has gone under in five out of the last seven games played by the Blazers. The under is 8-6-1 in Portland’s 15 road games played this season. The total has gone over in 15 out of the last 18 games played by the Suns. The over is 10-5 in the Suns’ last 15 games played at home, and over in 8 out of their last 11 games played against the Western Conference. Head to head, the over is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.

These teams have combined to score an average of 223 points per game in their last 10 head to head meetings. The Suns are without Devin Booker but the Blazers are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, ranking in the Bottom 10 so the Suns will still score points here. Meanwhile, the Blazers are a Top 10 scoring team and Phoenix is 5th in that department as well. The Suns are also in the Bottom 8 in defense. No one is going to stop the Blazers’ backcourt from scoring points here.

Prediction: Over 228.5

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