The San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trailblazers are set to face each other in game 4 of their best-of seven series Monday night at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter in Portland, Oregon. The game has a start time of 10:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on TNT. Current odds have the Spurs listed as 4 point favorites, while the total sits at 211.
Stat Packs: The San Antonio Spurs had the best record in all of the NBA this year and after a 7 game fight with Dallas in the opening round, they have flexed their muscles in a big way, by easily routing the Portland Trailblazers in each of the first 3 games of this series. The Spurs are now 32-13 SU on the road this year, but are just 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games played at Portland. The Spurs were a solid offensive team overall this year, as they ranked 6th in scoring (105.4 ppg), and so far in the playoffs they have averaged 107.0 ppg on 50.1% shooting. Leading the Spurs in scoring in the playoffs is Tony Parker, who is averaging 21.7 ppg so far. Tim Duncan (16.2 ppg), Manu Ginobili (15.6 ppg) and Kawhi Leonard (13.5 ppg) have also averaged in double figures for the Spurs. Tiago Splitter is 5th in scoring at 9.9 ppg, while also leading the team in rebounding at 8.5 rpg. Defensively this was a solid team this year, ranking 6th in points allowed (97.6 ppg) and 8th in defensive FG% defense (44.4%), and in the playoffs they have allowed 100 ppg on 44.0% shooting.
The Portland Trailblazers shocked many with their 4-2 opening series win over the Houston Rockets, but they have not kept up the momentum vs the Spurs, getting blown out in all three games in round 2 so far. Portland has gone 33-12 on their home floor this year and are still 13-4 ATS in their last 17 home games vs the Spurs. Portland comes in averaging a solid 106.9 ppg so far, but they are only shooting at a 44% clip in the playoffs thus far. Lamarcus Aldrige has been the leader of this offense in the playoffs so far averaging 27.6 ppg, while also leading them in rebounding at 11.4 rpg. Damian Lillard (23.3 ppg), Nicolas Batum (15.9 ppg) and Wesley Mathews (15.1 ppg) round out the DD scorers for the team. During the regular season, the Blazers ranked 22nd in points allowed (102.8 ppg) and it has not been better for them in the playoffs, as they have allowed 113.3 ppg, which is the worst in the playoffs.
Pick: I have been saying it since the start of this series, the Trailblazers don't have the defense to hang with the Spurs and it has really shown as they have allowed 116 ppg in the 3 games so far. San Antonio is up 3 games to zero and would love nothing more than to end it tonight. It would make no sense for this team take their foot off the pedal and give the Blazers a game, when they can end it tonight and take the week of rest they will get. Portland's last 4 playoff losses have all been by 10 points or more and this one should be as well. Portland's season will come to an end tonight.
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Steve Fezzik, from Pregame.com, analyzes the recently released Week 1 NFL lines.