Venue: Moda Center
Home: Portland Trail Blazers
Away: New Orleans Pelicans
28.03.2023, @ 05:00 AM (+03:00 UTC)
The NBA Regular Season is now knocking on the door of the Postseason and we have reached a crucial stage where a win or loss can make a lot of difference for different teams. Therefore, it is necessary to keep a close eye on the affairs pertaining to the league. In another one of the affairs, the Portland Trail Blazers are going to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.
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The Trail Blazers enter the game after losing 112:118 against the Thunder despite an electric 29 points performance by Shaedon Sharpe. Portland has lost two in a row and they have lost eight in the nine games. The Trail Blazers have lost 42 and have won 32 games. They are practically out of the Play-in contention. Portland has been again over-relaying on Damian Lillard who has once again shattered Portland’s scoring records but this season looked different as the team began on a positive note courtesy of a hot start by Jerami Grant. However, the second half of the season has been tumultuous for the team. Anfernee Simons and Grant have long-term promises but will Portland be patient?
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans come into this game after defeating the Clippers 131:110 as Brandon Ingram scooped up 32 points and 13 assists. The Pels have won four in a row and this is the first instance of them winning four in a row since late December. A timeline that coincides with the injury to Zion Williamson. The current run has helped them back in the Play-in and even the Playoff contention. Brandon Ingram has been breathing fire and apart from being the first scoring option, he has assumed playmaking duties being in the 30-32 points and 7-13 assists range which has provided a major boost. Role players like Trey Murphy are getting more open looks because of that whereas Jonas Valanciunas’ rebounding plus scoring and CJ McCollum’s shot-creation have become more effective because of Brandon.
Injuries
- Trail Blazers: OUT: Ibou Badji, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Justise Winslow. Likely: Jusuf Nurkic, Damian Lillard, Trendon Watford;
- Pelicans: OUT: Jose Alvarado, Zion Williamson, E.J. Lidell.
Player Props Predictions
- Expected Leading Scorers: Brandon Ingram(30+ Points), Damian Lillard(27-33 Points);
- Expected Leading Rebounders: Jonas Valanciunas(13+ Rebounds), Jusuf Nurkic(10-13 Rebounds)-GTD;
- Expected Leading Playmakers: Brandon Ingram(8-11 Assists), Damian Lillard(7-10 Assists).
Expert Betting Tips
The Pels have been playing riveting basketball thanks to a huge burst of play by Brandon Ingram. Trail Blazers are likely to get Damian Lillard which will give a big boost to the second/third unit that showed a big fight in the last match-up. However, I see the Pelicans coming in with fire and nabbing their fifth straight win. I predict a scoreline of 122:115 in Pels’ favor.