3/11/08 PICK OF THE DAY

3/11/08 PICK OF THE DAY

Portland Trailblazers at Minnesota Timberwolves (+1.5)

For Tuesday, we’re coming back with the the Association and back the Blazers as a small road chalk at the Timberwolves.

I know that Portland played last night in Cleveland, and so there’s a back-to-back issue with travel facing the Blazers. But this young squad has handled back-to-backs pretty well this year, going 9-6 ATS. And Portland gave LeBron and the Cavs all they could handle for 46½ minutes last night, succumbing in the final 90 seconds.

Despite that setback, the Blazers are still on a 6-2 ATS roll (4-4 SU), including spread-covers in their last three games against inferior competition (Knicks, Bucks and Clippers). Tonight, they definitely face an inferior foe in the Timberwolves, who are still 14-48 despite consecutive road wins over the weekend at the Kings and Clippers. Minnesota has lost eight of its last 10 at home, including the last two against crappy Seattle and Charlotte. Also, the TWolves have been massacred by the Blazers twice this year, losing 109-98 in Portland as an 8½-point underdog and 90-79 at home as a five-point pup. In fact, the Blazers have cashed in four straight and seven of the last eight against Minnesota, winning six of those eight games outright.

Throw in the fact Minnesota is 17-35 ATS in its last 52 home games while Portland is on ATS streaks of 5-1 on the road, 5-1 in Minnesota and 6-2 on Tuesdays, and I’ll back the visitors here at a very cheap price.

PICK

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (-1.5)