San Antonio Spurs (6-7, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (9-4, first in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Trail Blazers -7.5; over/under is 225
BOTTOM LINE: Anfernee Simons and the Portland Trail Blazers host Keldon Johnson and the San Antonio Spurs in Western Conference action.
The Trail Blazers are 7-3 against Western Conference opponents. Portland ranks eighth in the Western Conference with 14.3 fast break points per game led by Damian Lillard averaging 4.3.
The Spurs have gone 2-6 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks third in the Western Conference shooting 37.9% from 3-point range.
TOP PERFORMERS: Simons is shooting 42.1% and averaging 22.3 points for the Trail Blazers. Lillard is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Portland.
Johnson is averaging 23.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Spurs. Devin Vassell is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for San Antonio.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 6-4, averaging 108.7 points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game while shooting % from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.
Spurs: 4-6, averaging 112.2 points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game while shooting % from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.6 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Justise Winslow: day to day (non-covid illness), Keon Johnson: day to day (hip), Jusuf Nurkic: day to day (abductor), Gary Payton II: out (core), Olivier Sarr: out (wrist).
Spurs: Zach Collins: out (leg), Malaki Branham: out (ankle), Blake Wesley: out (knee), Tre Jones: out (illness), Romeo Langford: out (health and safety protocols).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
GAME LINES
PICK: POR BLAZERS -8.5
ANALYSIS: This is a tough spot for the Spurs. they are on the road, traveling from Golden State, where they played Monday, to face one of the best teams in the conference the next night. This is a winnable game at home for the superior team facing an opponent playing a back to back. It's a no-brainer -- take the Blazers to cover..