Portland at Houston

Portland has been doing all its damage in the young season at home, with just a 1-3 SU/ATS road record. This is a tough road trip through the Texas Triangle, getting blown out at San Antonio last night 99-83 for their second defeat in a row. This is the second game of a six-game trip. This slump is nothing new as the Trail Blazers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games. I’m surprised to find Houston opening as an underdog in this game and note that the underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between these teams. Houston is awful on the road, but is 3-1 SU/ATS at home with a strong backcourt behind Luis Scola and Kevin Martin. They come off an easy home win last night, 103-89 over Sacramento with four players off the pine getting 11, 14, 16 and 19 minutes in the rout. The Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games, 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400. Play on the Rockets.