Blazers wrap up trek at Memphis

Basketball Betting Lines

03/01/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers hope to finish up a five-game road trip in winning fashion Monday against a Memphis Grizzlies team chasing them for the final spot in the Western Conference playoff hunt.

Shooting for just the fourth playoff berth in franchise history, Memphis is now 3 1/2 games behind Portland for the eighth spot in the West.

The Blazers improved to an impressive 3-1 on their trek Saturday in Minneapolis when Nicolas Batum netted 22 points in the third quarter on the way to a career-high 31, leading Portland to a 110-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Batum, the 25th overall selection in the 2008 draft, is in his second season in the NBA since coming over from France. The 21-year-old also finished with seven rebounds and seven assists against the Wolves.

Batum did the bulk of his damage in the third quarter, when he drained four three pointers, and his 22 points in that frame alone surpassed his previous career-high of 20.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and seven boards for the Blazers, who rebounded from Friday's overtime loss in Chicago. Rudy Fernandez added 18 points off the bench.

"We definitely needed this win, especially giving away a game like we did last night [against] Chicago," Portland center Marcus Camby said. "The guys came out with energy, especially the second half defensively."

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are coming off a win in New York on Saturday. All- Star Zach Randolph poured in 31 points and pulled down a career-high 25 rebounds in that one, as Memphis used a late surge to take down the Knicks, 120-109, at Madison Square Garden.

Rudy Gay added 27 points and five rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won four in a row on the road for the first time since January 1-19, 2005. Marc Gasol donated 25 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Mike Conley tallied 18 points and five assists for the victors.

"What can you say about Zach (Randolph). Thirty-one and 25 and he probably would've had more [rebounds] if guys weren't taking rebounds from him because he can't jump," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins joked.

The Grizzlies have been a bit of a Bipolar team recently. The latest road success hasn't transferred Memphis and Hollins' club has dropped six straight on its home floor.

Portland has won six straight at FedEx Forum and 10 of its last 14 overall meetings against Memphis, but both Grizzlies wins have come this season in the Pacific Northwest.

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Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.