Blazers go for season sweep of Spurs

Basketball Betting Lines

02/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers shoot for a season sweep of the San Antonio Spurs when the two Western Conference powers collide Thursday night at the Rose Garden.

Portland has won the first two matchups with the Spurs and four straight overall, including a 98-94 triumph the last time these two teams met on December 23 in the Alamo City. Jerryd Bayless, in his first NBA start, poured in a career-high 31 points to go with seven assists for the Blazers, who will try for their fourth straight win in this series as the host.

A win tonight would give the Trail Blazers two consecutive home sweeps over the Spurs for the first time since the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons.

The Blazers will open a three-game homestand tonight versus the Spurs, Lakers and Thunder, and are 17-9 as the host this season. They have lost four of their last six games overall, and are coming off Wednesday's 118-105 setback against Utah in Salt Lake City. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, while Martell Webster chipped in 20 points and Bayless added 14 in defeat.

"They do a lot of back cutting," Aldridge said. "It's tough because you're trying to load up and help out your teammates then they back cut you and end up with easy baskets. I put them right up at the top with the best teams (in the league). As far as execution and their assists they do a great job."

San Antonio will resume its eight-game rodeo road trip tonight and began the lengthy trek with Wednesday's 115-113 victory at Sacramento thanks to George Hill, who tied his career-high with 23 points and dished out a personal-best nine assists.

Tim Duncan had 22 points and 13 rebounds, DeJuan Blair ended with 20 points and Manu Ginobili chipped in 20 points and six assists for the Spurs, who have won three of four overall and improved to 9-9 away from the AT&T Center this season. San Antonio, which is two games behind idle Dallas for the top spot in the Southwest Division, will also visit the Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets, Pacers, 76ers and Pistons on the trek.

"With George on the floor we're a little more versatile in different directions," Duncan said after last night's win. "He brings that to the table for us. He's really picked up the slack and done a great job with it."

On the injury front for the Spurs, All-Star guard Tony Parker has missed the last three games with a sprained left ankle and is questionable for tonight.

Parker is posting 16.9 points and 5.8 assists this season.

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Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

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