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Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Houston and Portland meet again after one of the strangest finishes of the season. The Trail Blazers escaped Wednesday with a 103-102 win after a last-second tip-in by Tari Eason was overturned on review. The Rockets dominated the glass and generated open looks, but poor shooting cost them a chance to steal the game late.
Friday’s rematch adds another layer with Kevin Durant approaching a historic milestone. Durant has scored 20 or more points in 12 straight games and needs 15 points to pass Wilt Chamberlain for seventh on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Houston expects sharper execution after what Ime Udoka called its worst defensive night in weeks.
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Line Movement and Odds
Houston opened -2.5 and the line has trimmed to -1.5 after Portland’s late-game win drew early dog money. The Trail Blazers sit at +1.5, with bettors reacting to their recent surge.
The total opened at 222.5 and has dipped to 221, reflecting Houston’s shooting struggles and Portland’s slower half-court pace when playing from ahead. Moneyline pricing shows Houston around -125, with Portland near +105.
Track live numbers on the NBA odds board.
Matchup Breakdown
Houston’s edge remains on the interior. The Rockets pulled down 57 rebounds and grabbed 24 offensive boards in the opener. If their shooting normalizes even slightly, the efficiency gap swings quickly. Durant’s gravity still bends coverage, and Houston expects cleaner looks in the rematch.
Portland’s confidence is real. Deni Avdija controlled the game with 41 points and continues to pressure defenses by getting downhill and drawing fouls. The Blazers have won six of seven, and their recent success is built on composure late and improved free-throw conversion.
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Injuries and Conditions
Houston Rockets
- Kevin Durant, workload management, probable
- Alperen Şengün, back tightness, probable
- Fred VanVleet, hamstring, questionable
See full Houston Rockets injury report.
Portland Trail Blazers
- Jerami Grant, knee, out
- Anfernee Simons, illness, questionable
- Deandre Ayton, ankle, out
See full Portland Trail Blazers injury report.
This game is indoors, no weather impact.
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Best Bets and Prediction
Houston rarely shoots that poorly in back-to-back games, and the rebounding edge remains significant. Portland’s momentum matters, but the market still expects a bounce-back effort from the Rockets.
Projected Score: Rockets 112, Trail Blazers 108
Best Bet: Rockets -1.5
Secondary Lean: Under 221
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