[10:00 PM] Heat @ Trail Blazers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Miami Heat (7-12)

@ Portland Trail Blazers (10-10)

 

• The line for this game is Portland by 6.5 points.

• The Portland Trail Blazers need to outscore teams to win games, and top scorer Damian Lillard is trying to shoot his team into a winning homestand. Lillard will try to score 27 or more points for the fifth straight game when the Trail Blazers close out a four-game homestand by hosting the Miami Heat on Saturday.

• Forwards Derrick Williams (back spasms) and Justise Winslow (wrist) and guards Josh Richardson (ankle) and Dion Waiters (groin) all sat out on Thursday, but James Johnson and Wayne Ellington picked up the slack. Johnson scored a season-high 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting while Ellington added 17 points on 6-of-9 from the field.

• Portland surrendered at least 130 points in each of its last two losses but came away from Wednesday’s triumph feeling much better about the defense. Lillard is getting some help on the offensive end from small forward Maurice Harkless, who is averaging 20 points in the last three games. Lillard is getting some help on the offensive end from small forward Maurice Harkless, who is averaging 20 points in the last three games.

• Trail Blazers C Mason Plumlee is averaging 14.5 points on 27-of-43 shooting in the last four games.

• Miami F Luke Babbitt (hip) left Thursday’s game in the first quarter and did not return.

• The teams split two meetings last season, with Portland earning a 110-93 home win on April 2.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Portland Trailblazers

Confidence: 7/10

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