Basketball betting features a very competitive matchup on Friday as the Portland Trail Blazers host the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are on their West Coast swing as they played the Lakers last night. This NBA betting matchup between the Celtics and Blazers can be seen on ESPN.
Basketball betting has this as Boston’s fourth game of five-game road trip. Boston has already beaten Portland once this season, winning 98-95 in overtime at home. Last season the teams split their two games. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 20.5 points per game a year ago while LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 16.5 points per game. Boston is 9-2 against Portland since the 2004-2005 season.
Portland really has trouble scoring against Boston Celtics. Last year they averaged 84.5 points in two games last season, the fewest against any team. They would have been right around that number in the game earlier this season if the game didn’t go into overtime.
Boston has not only won eight of the last ten against Portland they are also 8-2 against the NBA betting odds. Boston has won three of the last five games at Portland. The Celtics may have another basketball betting advantage in this game on Friday since Portland All-Star guard Brandon Roy is unlikely to play. Roy played briefly on Tuesday in the win over the Clippers but it was clear he was not at full strength.
Boston is the top team in the NBA on defense so the Blazers could struggle to score in this game. Boston has been a better team in basketball betting on the road than at home. At home the Celtics are overvalued but on the road they can at least be a reasonable NBA betting value.
Portland has also been better against the basketball betting odds on the road than at home. It used to be that you could count on Portland having a winning record vs. the NBA betting odds at home but that is not the case this season. Portland is 14-15-1 against the basketball betting spread in home games this season. The Blazers are coming off a 109-87 basketball betting win on Tuesday against the Clippers. Marcus Camby did not play in that game but he is expected to get his first action with the Blazers in this game on Friday. Portland’s defense has been pretty good at 4th in the league and it could be improved with Camby in the starting lineup.