The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Trail Blazers Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Trail Blazers Pick.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
The Portland Trail Blazers have been in a major slump as they’ve lost 12 of their last 16 games overall and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting mauled by the Grizzlies in a 119-96 loss on Sunday. Jerami Grant led the team with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each scored 17 points while Tounami Camara chipped in with 13 points. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 40 percent from the field and 15 of 43 from the 3-point line, but they were sloppy with the ball early on and just couldn’t recover after getting outscored by 40-20 in the first quarter. In fact, the Trail Blazers finished with a total of 26 turnovers, with Sharpe and Avdija combining for 11 of those turnovers.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been ice-cold as they’ve lost 16 of their last 17 games and they are now on a seven-game losing streak after falling just short to the Spurs in a 135-132 loss on Monday. Derik Queen led the team with a triple-double of 33 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Trey Murphy III added 32 points on 13 of 21 shooting while Saddiq Bey chipped in with 17 points on seven of 11 shooting. As a team, the Pelicans shot 58 percent from the field and seven of 26 from the 3-point line as they erupted for 45 points in the third quarter to overcome an early 25-point deficit. They took the lead with just 30.0 seconds left on the clock before the Spurs scored the final four points to steal the game in the final seconds.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win
- The Trail Blazers have lost five of their last six games as favorites.
- The Pelicans have won 15 of their last 17 night games against Trail Blazers teams that held a losing record.
- The Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last eight games against Western Conference opponents following a loss.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games as favorites.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last 14 games against Western Conference opponents.
- The favorites have won 21 of the Pelicans’ last 22 games at Smoothie King Center.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games against Northwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
- The Trail Blazers have covered the spread in six of their last seven games following a loss.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Pelicans’ last seven home games against Western Conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Trail Blazers’ last six games as road favorites have gone OVER the total points line.
Pelicans vs Trail Blazers Prediction
The Trail Blazers are still missing Jrue Holiday, Donovan Clingan, Matisse Thybulle and Scoot Henderson, while the Pelicans have ruled out Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray with Jordan Poole listed as questionable. The Pelicans have been in terrible form, but they could pull off the upset if they play as well as they did in the second half of Monday’s loss to the Spurs. They really found a spark plug in Queen. The Trail Blazers come into this contest as the team in better form, but only just, as they’ve struggled for form despite players like Grant, Sharpe and Avdija having some good performances. You couldn’t back either side with any confidence at the moment, but I think the Pelicans are a good chance of pulling off the upset at home in this spot.