The Portland Trail Blazers (8-3) visit the Smoothie King Center Thursday to take on the New Orleans Pelicans (6-5). Tip is set for 8 p.m. ET.
The Trail Blazers are one of the more surprising teams to this point in the season. Led by G Damian Lillard, the Blazers are 6-2 in conference games and 5-1 on the road, the best record in the West.
Lillard is averaging 28.6 points per game this season and is shooting 48% from the field and 40.8% from deep. G Anfernee Simons is the other dangerous offensive player, averaging 22 per game.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, have played well but have also struggled heavily with injuries to both star F Brandon Ingram and F Zion Williamson. Both should be active against Portland.
New Orleans has 6 players that average double figures with G CJ McCollum, who spent the bulk of his career in Portland, leading the way with a 24.3 points-per-game average.
Blazers at Pelicans odds
- Moneyline (ML): Blazers +205 (bet $100 to win $205) | Pelicans -260 (bet $260 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Blazers +6.5 (-117) | Pelicans -6.5 (-103)
- Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
Blazers at Pelicans key injuries
Blazers
- Not yet submitted
Pelicans
- Not yet submitted
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Blazers at Pelicans picks and predictions
Prediction
Pelicans 118, Blazers 114
Moneyline
PASS.
If there was a play, it would undoubtedly be Portland at +205, but I would pass on the moneyline here.
Against the spread
BET BLAZERS +6.5 (-117).
The Blazers are tied with the Bucks for the best-covering team in the NBA at 9-2 ATS, but they are the best on the road with a 5-1 ATS record.
The most beneficial thing for Portland is the presence of C Jusuf Nurkic, who will have to battle C Jonas Valančiūnas on the boards.
The Blazers rank 16th in defensive rebounding rate while the Pelicans often get 2nd-chance efforts, sitting 3rd in offensive rebounding rate. Nurkic should play a big part in Portland rebounding success.
Portland is also a better shooting team in terms of effective field goal percentage and have a better defensive rating. As road dogs, I would back the Blazers +6.5 (-117).
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 224.5 (-112).
The Blazers have the 2nd-worst defensive rating in the NBA, and the Pelicans aren’t far behind, also in the bottom half of the league.
Offensive rebounding could be a problem for Portland as outlined as well. The pace will factor in, and while it may not be a hectic tempo, the Blazers sit 15th and Pelicans 21st in pace.
Given the offensive firepower in Simons and Lillard coupled with their pace and how the Pelicans rebound, I would back the Over 225.5 (-112).