Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs gets continues on Wednesday night and we will see the Portland Trailblazers travel to San Antonio, Texas to take on the San Antonio Spurs in game 5 of their best-of seven series. The game has a start time of 9:30 pm (Est) and will be televised on TNT. Vegas odds have the Spurs listed as 8 point favorites, while the total sits at 209.
Stat Packs: 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 the first 3 games of round 2. They did get one game back Monday night, but that was in Portland and now they are on the road where the Spurs are very tough to beat. Portland comes in averaging a solid 106.5 ppg so far in the playoffs, but they are only shooting at a 44% clip. Lamarcus Aldrige has been the leader of this offense in the playoffs so far averaging 26.7 ppg, while also leading them in rebounding at 10.7 rpg. Damian Lillard (23.5 ppg), Nicolas Batum (15.7 ppg) and Wesley Mathews (14.6 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 111.2 ppg, which is the worst in the playoffs.
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. They did look a bit disinterested in game 4 as the Blazers got one back, but they still have a commanding 3-1 series lead as they head back to San Antonio, wgere the Spurs are 37-10 on the year. The Spurs are averaging 105.6 ppg on 49.6% shooting in the playoffs and are led by Tony Parker, who is averaging 21.0 ppg so far. Tim Duncan (15.8 ppg), Manu Ginobili (14.4 ppg) and Kawhi Leonard (13.3 ppg) have also averaged in double figures for the Spurs. 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 100.3 ppg on 44.0% shooting.
Pick: Going with the over here. The Trailblazers defense has been awful in the post-season and stopping the Spurs on their home court will not be an easy task for this team. Portland has allowed 111 pgg in the post season and the Spurs put up 114 and 116 points in their first 2 games of this series here. Portland has the ability to score in bunches and should get their fair share of points in this one. Portland has to speed the game up and the Spurs will play that style as well, especialy on their home court. Look for at least 215 points to be scored in this one.
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