NBA Betting: Blazers, Spurs Spar In Portland

A busy Thursday in the NBA begins with the San Antonio Spurs finishing off a tough back-to-back on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers.

On Wednesday night, the Spurs had their hands full against the Golden State Warriors. Heading into that matchup, they were 5-1 straight up and 2-4 against the spread in their last six. On the road they’ve struggled lately at 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS in their last seven. This season in the second half of a back-to-back, the Spurs are 3-6 SU and 5-4 ATS.

Portland is coming off a 118-108 upset loss to the Miami Heat as a 7.5-point favorite at Bovada Sportsbook. That snapped a three-game winning streak SU and ATS but extended an OVER streak for totals bettors to five games. In their last eight games, Portland is 7-1 OVER. At home Portland is 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in its last nine.

The Spurs and Trail Blazers have split the season series so far, with each team winning and covering once at home. In Portland, the Trail Blazers are 6-3 SU and 5-3-1 ATS in their last nine vs the Spurs.

Lakers 6-2 ATS in last 8 as road underdog

Also on tap Thursday night, the Los Angeles Lakers will look to rebound from their worst loss of the season when they visit the Boston Celtics.

On Tuesday the Lakers were embarrassed by the Indiana Pacers 136-94 as a 2.5-point favorite. That dropped Los Angeles to 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS in its last eight games. The Lakers should be a road underdog Thursday, which may play well for bettors as they are 6-2 ATS in their last eight as a road underdog.

Boston has won five straight but is only 2-2-1 ATS. In their last 11 games, the Celtics are 10-1 SU and 5-5-1 ATS, while at home they’re 13-1 SU and 10-4 ATS in their last 14.

This is the first matchup this season between the Lakers and Celtics. In the last five between the two rivals, Boston is 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS.

Toronto has lost 6 straight ATS as road favorite

Finally, Thursday night also delivers what looks to be a blowout when the Toronto Raptors face the Atlanta Hawks.

Toronto upset the Philadelphia 76ers 119-107 as a 2.5-point underdog last time out to win its second in a row SU and ATS, and improve to 3-3 SU and ATS in the last six. Toronto should be a road favorite in this matchup, which could be bad for bettors as the Raptors have lost six straight ATS as a road favorite and they’re 1-8 ATS in their last nine.

Atlanta has won its last two games SU, both as the underdog. As a home underdog, the Hawks are 4-3 SU and ATS in their last seven and on the season they’re 7-11 SU and ATS in their last 18 games.

Toronto has won six straight vs the Hawks at 5-1 ATS. In Atlanta the Raptors are 6-2 SU and ATS in their last eight.