Best in the West – Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers

Los Angeles Lakers (50-12 SU, 31-30-1 ATS) at Portland Trail Blazers (39-23 SU, 31-31 ATS)

BetOnline NBA Odds: LAKERS -2.5, Total 202

Here are some of the NBA pro basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* LA has won 15 of its last 18 games SU

* LA has played five of its last six games UNDER the total

* LA has covered two of its last six road games

* LA has won 14 of its last 18 road games SU

* LA has played ten of its last 15 road games OVER the total

* PORT has covered two of its last six games

* PORT has won four of its last five games SU

* PORT has won its last 11 home games SU

Also…

* PORT has covered nine of the last 11 meetings

* LA has won five of the last seven meetings SU

* Four of the last six meetings have gone UNDER the total

* PORT has won the last six meetings SU as the home team

* PORT has covered the last five meetings as the home team

* Eight of the last 11 meetings have gone OVER the total

* LA has had the shooting edge in three of the last four meetings

* LA has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings

* PORT has made more three-pointers in four of the last five meetings

Portland currently finds itself in a tie for the sixth spot in the West, knotted up with Denver and only a game behind the Houston Rockets, who are the third-place team. All of this means a lot to the Blazers, because it means they have a chance to win the opportunity for home court advantage in the first round of post-season action.

Why is that important? Because Portland is so good on its home floor. The Blazers have taken eleven straight games at the Rose Garden and are 26-5 SU overall there. These games are more critical to them than the Lakers, who are comfortably atop the West standings, eight games ahead of San Antonio and virtually assured of having the home court edge through the West bracket of the playoffs. They have also won 14 of their last 18 road games, but Portland has a little revenge on its mind as well, as they’ve lost both meetings to the Lakers this season – held at the Staples Center – by a combined 34 points, and were a combined 37% from the field on those occasions.

One of the reasons Portland plays so well at home is that the Blazers have a commanding presence on the boards, racking up a +8 rebounding margin in games they play at the Rose Garden. Guard Brandon Roy, who missed the last meeting between these two, has averaged 27 points over his last four games. We admit that the Blazers need to get more out of LeMarcus Aldridge, who shot just 2-of-14 last time out against Minnesota (a 95-93 win/no-cover for Portland) but he and Roy will undoubtedly be keyed up for this one. If Joel Przybilla, a massive 7’3" presence who blocks an occasional shot or two, can eat up some space in the middle, Portland may be able to compensate for the absence of the injured Greg Oden.

Portland has not only been sharp at home, they have won the last six at home against this opponent. They won’t lack intensity, but maybe Kobe & Co. will. Let’s take the points with Portland, the 2.5-point dog in the BetOnline Sportsbook NBA pro basketball betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: PORTLAND +2.5 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)