I'm going with the Suns here tonight despite losing their last 5 games on the road and if they lost here tonight would be their longest road losing streak in some time. With that said I don't think that will happen against the Blazers who they have serious revenge on tonight.
Blazers have won the last two times at home and they've done it with offense as their usual solid defense could not stop the Suns, but this time they really have been struggling offensively and the Suns will have the advantage because the Blazers are still beaten up. They were able to take care of the Kings barely, but the Suns are a different caliber. The 1 day rest definitely does not help the Blazers either as both Aldridge and Roy played over 40 minutes in their last game. The Blazers are 6-9 ATS on 1 day rest and what hurts the most is their defense as they play their worst in this spot. Blazers as of late are 1-2 ATS on 1 day rest in the two losses they lost ATS by a margin 21.5 and 12 points.
On the other hand the Suns are 9-3 ATS and striaght up when playing on 1 day. They are playing their 2nd best offense and defense in this situation, but they will have more motivation losing their last 5 road games including their last one at Denver when they led by as many as 17 in the third. Actually look at their last 5 road games and they are against top notch opponents. Nuggets, Mavericks, Lakers, Cavs, and Knicks. All 5 of those teams are int he top 10 with the exception of the Knicks who beat up on the Suns, but a lot of other factors going on in that game as the Suns were playing their 3rd road game in 5 days. Knicks have played good ball as of late anyway. Suns are 3-0 SU and ATS in this exact situation of playing on 1 day rest going from home to the road.
Suns are also playing slightly better defense in the last 5 games while the Blazers are playing their worst defense on the season. Blazers are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 when opponents score 100+ in a previous game and the Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 in Portland and 23-9-1 ATS in their last 33 meetings.
I really think the Suns want this game as Gran Hill quoted, "We've been playing well at home and after this POR game we'll be home for a while and it would be nice to get a good road win against a good team." Well that's true the motivation to win a road game when you get to go back for a home stand seems like a nice idea.
