2009-12-11

The Cleveland Cavaliers suddenly find themselves on a two-game losing streak against Western Conference opponents after winning their previous 13, but both of those came away from Quicken Loans Arena. The Portland Trailblazers know rather well they’re much tougher to beat at home. Cleveland plays as a 9-point favorite at Sportsbook.com for Friday’s contest and ¾ of bettors have been willing to lay the points thus far according to the BETTING TRENDS page. Read on for a preview of this game and the nightcap on ESPN, Orlando at Phoenix.

LeBron James has had a triple-double the last two times the Cavaliers hosted Portland, and he’ll try to help Cleveland avoid a rare three-game skid Friday night as it seeks a seventh straight home win both overall and against the Trail Blazers.

The Cavaliers (15-7, 11-11 ATS) won their final eight games against Western opponents in 2008-09 and their first five this season, but that streak was snapped Tuesday in a 111-109 overtime loss in Memphis.

Twenty-one turnovers plagued Cleveland against the Grizzlies, and they were a problem again Wednesday in Houston. The Cavaliers gave it away 20 times against the Rockets in a 95-85 loss.

Cleveland hasn’t lost three straight since March 22-29, 2008 and is 17-3 ATS off a road loss over the last two seasons.

James is averaging a career-high 3.8 turnovers, though he’s also dish out a career-best 8.2 assists per game, and Cleveland is at its best when he’s getting his teammates involved. The Cavaliers are 9-2 when he has at least nine assists and 7-1 when he attempts 17 shots or fewer. Cleveland has covered 17 of their last 24 Friday night assignments.

The production of point guard Mo Williams, Cleveland’s second-leading scorer at 16.8 points per game, has also been consequential to the Cavaliers’ success. Cleveland is 11-2 if Williams hits 40 percent of his shots and 13-3 when he scores 12 points or more.

Williams averaged 22.5 points as the Cavaliers swept Portland (14-9, 11-12 ATS) last season - pouring in 33 in a 104-98 win at the Rose Garden on Jan. 21 - but James has been Cleveland’s catalyst against the Blazers at home. The reigning MVP has averaged 27.7 points in leading the Cavaliers to a 6-0 record during his career when Portland visits, finishing with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 97-92 overtime victory March 19.

Three of James’ 25 career triple-doubles have come against the Blazers. With Portland sporting a 6-5 road record (spread mark is the same), the Cavs are 14-4 ATS at home vs. a team with a positive visitors record.

Portland, meanwhile, has had to lean even more on its multitalented All-Star recently with its lineup depleted by injury. Brandon Roy had averaged 25.0 points during that rough patch, but another big effort against the Pacers paid off. The 2007 rookie of the year had 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists in lifting Portland to a 102-91 win and they are 26-13 ATS off a double digit victory.

Like the Cavaliers’ success when James involves his teammates more, the Blazers don’t typically thrive on Roy’s big games - they’re 3-5 when he scores 25 points or more.

Roy has averaged 19.4 points on 40.5 percent shooting in his career against Cleveland.

Sportsbook.com has Cleveland as nine-point favorites with total of 184 and they are 23-12 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points since last season. Portland is 3-9 and 4-8 ATS in last 12 visits near the shores of Lake Erie and is 14-3 UNDER in road games on Friday nights over the last three seasons.

This ESPN game starts at 8:00 Eastern and is immediately followed by Orlando heading into the Arizona desert.

After a fruitless road trip, the Phoenix Suns probably can’t wait for their next game at U.S. Airways Center. Awaiting the NBA’s only unbeaten home team, however, is one of the league’s best road squads. The Suns will attempt to keep their perfect record intact Friday night with their eighth consecutive home win against the Orlando Magic, who will try to put a second-half collapse behind them.

Following a 14-3 start, fatigue appears to have set in for Phoenix, who has played a league-high 15 road games. The Suns (15-7, 12-10 ATS) have gone from averaging 112.0 points during their hot start to 98.6 while losing four of five this month — all away from home.

Orlando (17-5, 13-9 ATS) scored 60 in the first half Thursday night vs. Utah and led by as many as 18, but saw its advantage cut to eight at halftime and allowed the Jazz to start the second half on a 14-3 run. “Once we gave them confidence, gave them an opportunity to really get rolling, it was tough to stop that machine,” swingman Vince Carter said.

The Magic never recovered from there in a 120-111 defeat, their first away from home since Nov. 8. They had also previously won 23 straight dating back to last season when scoring at least 100, including a 122-100 home win over Phoenix on Nov. 4.

Carter, who scored a season-high 34 Thursday, has helped the defending Eastern Conference champions to a 10-3 (8-5 ATS) road record this season. Playing in 11 games away from home, Carter has averaged 21.7 points. Orlando is outstanding 18-5 ATS off a road loss over the last two seasons.

He leads the Magic with 20.1 points, just ahead of Howard (18.4). Carter also has scored an average of 25.6 points in 10 career games at U.S. Airways Center.

Amare Stoudemire, meanwhile, has led the Suns to a 7-0 (4-3 ATS) mark at home with 22.4 points on 61.7 percent shooting, but he also appears to be dealing with fatigue lately with one 20-point performance in his last seven contests overall.

Along with its third straight win in the series, Orlando is searching for its first victory in Phoenix since Nov. 14, 2001 (0-7 SU & 5-2 ATS) and they are 1.5-point road underdogs with total of 215.5. The Magic are 10-1 ATS after playing three consecutive road games 14-4 ATS after scoring 60 points or more in the first half last contest. The Suns haven’t fared as well against quality road clubs with 2-6 ATS mark if they have win percentage of .600 or higher.

The total figures to be a dichotomy with these two teams and Orlando is 17-7 UNDER versus offensive teams scoring 103 or more points a game, while Phoenix is 21-4 OVER at home after playing consecutive road games. Yet it is interesting to find the Suns are 7-0 UNDER after allowing 100 points or more three straight games this season.

The StatFox Power Lines show Cleveland by 6, Phoenix by 1