The return to action after All-Star break has been rocky, to say the least… but The Big Dog is looking to right the ship, with today’s “Play of the Day”. Taking centre stage are two Western Conference teams who find themselves in the thick of the race for a lower playoff seed.
Utah Jazz @ Portland Trail Blazers
The boys from Rip City, lead by a rampaging Damian Lillard, are coming off a stunning 32-point upset victory over the Golden State Warriors and their current four-game winning streak is tied with the Cavaliers and Hornets for the longest in the league. After being picked almost unanimously to miss the playoffs this season, after losing four starters from last year, Portland have been the biggest surprise in the West and currently sit in the seventh seed with a 28-27 record. They have gone 17-11 at home and a very respectable 22-15 within their own conference. They welcome a Utah Jazz team to town that has struggled on the road (9-17) and against Western Conference foes (14-18) but sit only half a game behind the Trail Blazers, tied for the eighth seed with the Houston Rockets. Momentum is precious at this time of year and Portland will know that, with the Rockets also in action today, a loss could see them drop to ninth and be on the outside, looking in. Home court advantage, as well as the irresistible form of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, makes it impossible to go against the Trail Blazers in this one.
Selection
Portland Trail Blazers -3.0 @ $1.95 (William Hill)
