Things are looking up for the Trail Blazers, who have been fiesty against some of the NBA’s best teams. The opposite is true for the Pelicans, owners of a dismal 2-8 record. Still, neither of these squads are lacking in young talent.
Can New Orleans turn things around at home tonight? Below is my prediction and pick for Wednesday’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Blazers are 8.5-point favorites (-102) over the Pelicans on DraftKings Sportsbook. Portland is favored at -345 on the moneyline. The total is set at 229.5 points.
Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans prediction, preview
In fairness to New Orleans, injuries have hit this squad hard once again. Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jordan Poole (quad) have both been ruled out tonight. That leaves the Pelicans without two of their best players heading into Wednesday’s contest. The scoring burden will likely fall on Trey Murphy III. On Saturday against the Spurs, he recorded 41 points on 68% shooting from the field. However, the three-and-D specialist has never been the most consistent on offense.
The Pels may need to get creative with their rotations if they hope to earn a win. That means more minutes might be in store for Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. The pair of rookies have impressed through three weeks, emerging as valuable contributors. Fears in particular has looked promising, averaging 13.9 points, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Still, New Orleans ranks inside the NBA’s bottom four in offensive rating (109.4) and defensive rating (122.8). That makes it difficult to trust this group against almost anyone, even at home.
Portland will hope to take advantage of its injury-depleted opposition tonight. Unlike most other clubs, there is no real alpha on this roster. Five different players are averaging at least ten points per game. If anyone has earned the title of go-to scorer, it’s Deni Avdija. The wing is enjoying a breakout campaign, posting 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Alongside Jerami Grant (19.7 PPG) and Shaedon Sharpe (19.7 PPG), the Blazers are averaging the NBA’s eighth-most points per game (120.6).
On the other side of the ball, Portland has seen modest gains on defense. That’s due in large part to offseason addition Jrue Holiday. The 35-year-old, now limited on offense, remains a pest for opposing ball handlers. Wing Toumani Camara is another name worth mentioning. The All-Defensive Second Team selection last season has been a steady presence this season for the Blazers. The pair will look to put pressure on New Orleans, especially 19-year-old Fears.
Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans pick, best bet
The Blazers have made a habit of playing close games, including nail-biters against the Nuggets, Thunder and Timberwolves. It’s worth mentioning that nine of their ten games so far have come against playoff teams from last season. Wednesday’s game, against one of the NBA’s worst clubs, could be Portland’s opportunity for a blowout. If New Orleans was at full strength, there would be reason for optimism. However, the Pelicans own the association’s third-lowest average margin of defeat (-13.3). All signs point towards a comfortable win for the visitors tonight.
