After dropping the first two games of their first-round series with the Portland Trail Blazers on the road, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t panic and got back into the swing of things with a win at home in Game 3. Russell Westbrook and company have an opportunity to even up the series at two games apiece in Game 4 tonight. Sportsbooks opened the Thunder as 5.5-point home favorites with a total of 223.
Trail Blazers vs Thunder Game Center
Standout Stats
- OKC failed to reach 100 points and went 10-of-61 from 3-point range in a pair of setbacks at Portland but bounced back in a big way by scoring 120 and going 15-of-29 from beyond the arc in Game 3.
- Portland was outscored 31-18 at the free-throw line in Game 3, which was the biggest difference in the contest.
- Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard scored 25 of his 32 points in the third quarter to get Portland back into the game but it wasn’t enough as the Thunder pulled away down the stretch. In the series, Lillard is averaging 30.3 points per game.
- Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook struggled to 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting in Game 2 but looked like his usual dominant self at home, pouring in 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including 4-of-6 from downtown while adding 11 assists in the win.
- Game 3 proved yet again that home court advantage is massive when these teams collide. In the past six meetings between the Thunder and Blazers, home sides are 5-1 ATS.
My best bet for Trail Blazers-Thunder
Thunder -5.5
It’s no secret the Thunder were able to flip a switch with the series shifting back to their home floor, and I expect them to come out firing in Game 4 and even things up tonight. This series has the makings of going the distance with home teams having such a big advantage, so I’m on the Thunder to cover the 5.5 points and come away with a win in Game 4.
