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| Basketball / North America / NBA | Charlotte Bobcats - Portland Trail Blazers | Portland (-2) (1.98) | False |
| AMOUNT | QUOTE | WINNING |
| 8 | 1.98 | NO |
| Bobcats (15-24) posted their second straight win and 4th in the last 6 games Tuesday, 80:78 at Detroit. They haven't won three in row since March. Despite the fact they've been playing well lately, I have hard time believing they'll win tonight. Charlotte announced today that the team has acquired center DeSagana Diop from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for guard Matt Carroll and center Ryan Hollins. And with D.J. Augustin sidelined with an abdominal strain, this means that the Bobcats will be short-handed. Augustin averaged 12 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in 38 games and is an important part of Charlotte's rotation. Portland (24-15) is 2-1 on its current stretch of 7 straight games against East opponents and is 13-3 versus them on the season - the top mark among West clubs. Improved play against the East and the fact they have a really deep bench gives the Blazers the edge in this one. They'll miss their starting PG - Steve Blake, who is averaging 12 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds per game - but that shouldn't hurt them too much, as they still have Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez. Rodriguez replaced Blake in the starting lineup, but Bayless, the emerging rookie, could take over that position. |
