The New Orleans Pelicans (20-20) clash with the Portland Trail Blazers (22-19) at Smoothie King Center. The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, January 12, 2018.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Prediction
The Trail Blazers are trying to rebound after their 121-112 loss to the Houston Rockets in their last game. Houston won the rebounding battle. The Rockets had 17 offensive rebounds and 49 total rebounds, while the Trail Blazers had six and 40, respectively. Damian Lillard led Portland in scoring with 29 points on 9-for-16 shooting.
The last time the Pelicans played, they lost a tough one against the Memphis Grizzlies, 105-102. Memphis out-rebounded New Orleans. The Grizzlies had 14 offensive rebounds and 50 total rebounds, while the Pelicans had nine and 40, respectively. With 29 points on 6-for-15 shooting, DeMarcus Cousins was the top scorer from either team.
This matchup pits one of the NBA’s top offenses against one of its elite defensesNew Orleans ranks third in effective field goal percentage (0.554), while Portland is fourth in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.502).
Portland comes into the contest with records of 22-19 straight up (SU) and 19-18-4 against the spread (ATS). Of the Trail Blazers’ 41 games, 26 have finished under the O/U total.
Meanwhile, New Orleans is 20-20 SU and 21-19 ATS. Contrary to Portland, Pelicans games have a tendency to finish over the O/U total (57.5 percent).
CJ McCollum has averaged 24.6 points, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals over the last five games for Portland.
The two teams have split their two matchups this season. The Pelicans won the most recent matchup 123-116, covering as 8-point underdogs. The game finished with a total of 239 points, which was 27.5 points above the projected point total of 211.5 points. New Orleans did a fantastic job of getting and making free throws (18-25; 72.0 percent). Portland, on the other hand, had a much better turnover percentage (4.4 vs. 10.2). Lillard was a top player in the game with 29 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans Odds Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Trail Blazers, ATS Winner – Trail Blazers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes:
Portland is 13-7-1 ATS on the road with 12 unders and 9 overs.
At home, New Orleans is 9-10 ATS with 13 overs and 6 unders.
New Orleans is 7-0 when they hold opponents below 100 points, while Portland is 14-4.
In games where they reach the century mark, the Trail Blazers are 17-9 and the Pelicans are 18-14.
New Orleans ranks second in assists per game (26.4) while Portland ranks last (18.8).
The Trail Blazers rank second in three pointers allowed per game (25.9) while the Pelicans rank 25th (30.5).
Portland ranks fifth in fast break points allowed per game (9.8) while New Orleans ranks 27th (13.8).
The Pelicans rank second in points in the paint per game (50.3) while the Trail Blazers rank 21st (42.1).
Portland ranks 14th in steals allowed per game (7.7) while New Orleans ranks 27th (8.7).
The Pelicans average 5.0 blocks per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA. The Trail Blazers rank 23rd in blocks allowed per game (5.3).
Portland ranks 13th in second chance points per game (12.5) while New Orleans ranks 22nd in second chance points allowed per game (13.2).
The Trail Blazers average 44.6 rebounds per game, which ranks ninth in the league. The Pelicans rank 17th in rebounds allowed per game (43.5).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Portland is 2-2-1 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
New Orleans is 1-4 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games.
The Trail Blazers’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 1.4, up from 1.1 for the season.
During their last five games, the Pelicans have scored an average of 104.6 points per game (6.0 below their season average) and allowed an average of 106.6 points per game (4.2 below their season average).
