San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Keys to Game and Prediction

The San Antonio Spurs (6-2) take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night in what should be an exciting game at the Moda Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 10:30pm ET and will be televised on ESPN. LaMarcus Aldridge returns to Portland, where he spent the first nine seasons of his career.
What are some keys to a Spurs win, and who will win the game?
–Stop Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is one of the best players in the league. With LaMarcus Aldridge and the rest of his starting lineup gone from last season, he is even better now. Lillard is averaging 27.5 points and 7.3 assists. In four games against the Spurs last year, he averaged 26.8 points and 5.5 assists. Lillard will be going up against his old teammate (Aldridge), which means he will play with some fire tonight.
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–Feed LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge is going back home. Not only is he going back home, he has the biggest matchup edge for the Spurs. Aldridge will be going up against Meyers Leonard and Mason Plumlee. This year Aldridge is averaging 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. Don’t be surprised if he goes for 25 points tonight.
-Control Pace
The Portland Trail Blazers love to run as much as anyone. Their backcourt of Lillard and C.J. McCollum (20.9 ppg) can score with the best of them. The Trail Blazers are seventh in the league in points, as they average 103.8 points. You don’t want them to get in a track meet with this team.
Prediction:
102. 34. . 106. 29
The Portland Trail Blazers will keep this game close with their talented backcourt. This game will come down to the final seconds, where Aldridge and Leonard will be the difference in the game.