Portland Trail Blazers -3.0 (-110)
Wed Jan 30 ’08 9:05p

We’ve got some cross-conference action going late tonight when the (24-19) Cleveland Cavaliers invade the Rose Garden to take on the (26-18) Portland Trailblazers. Cleveland currently sits 7-games in back of the Central Division leading Detroit Pistons, while the Trailblazers find themselves half a game in back of the Northwest Division leading Utah Jazz. The Cavs sport an 11-12 SU mark on the road, but they’ve won 5 of their L/6 both SU and ATS. Meanwhile, Portland has made the most of their home contests this season by going a stellar 18-4 SU and 15-7 ATS.

We last saw the Cavaliers in action Sunday afternoon when they knocked off the LA Lakers 98-95 in the Staples Center. Lebron stole the show with 41 points and 9 boards, but a number of his teammates stepped up late in the 4th quarter to help the Cavs secure the outright victory. The defending Eastern Conference champs have won 8 of their L/10 SU, and have fared well against the Western Conference against the spread this season going a combined 11-8. They’re 4-1 ATS their L/5 against the Western Conference, and 5-1 ATS their L/6 against the Northwest Division.

Portland has fizzled out of late, but they’re coming off an enormous come-from-behind victory their last time out when they battled back from a 15-point deficit at the half to grab the 94-93 SU home win against Atlanta. However, they haven’t defeated a +.500 team since January 9th at home against Golden State. Their L/10 games have seen them go 5-5 SU but 4-6 ATS. They will have had two full days now to get reaclimated to their surroundings after playing seven in a row on the road before hosting both Houston and Atlanta. They’re 4-2 ATS this season on 2 days rest, and 11-3 ATS at home their L/14 games.

Oddsmakers have deemed the Blazers 3-points better then Cleveland in this spot with the ‘Total’ set at 186. The Cavs are a combined 28-17 (62%) ATS on the road vs. +.500 Western conference opponents, while the Blazers are also a solid 28-14 (67%) ATS combined at home vs. +.500 Eastern Conference opponents. This series has been dominated by the favorite as its cashed in 9 of the L/11 meetings. The Cavs are 5-2 ATS in their L/7 meetings with the Blazers, but backing them in the Rose Garden has been a losing proposition that’s seen the Cavs only cash 1 ticket in their L/7 visits.

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