Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 09/04/2024, 04:49  by Kennedy Kechula in NBA Predictions

The playoff-chasing New Orleans Pelicans will be away to the Portland Trail Blazers for their next regular season assignment. They arrive for this game sitting seventh in the West standings while the Blazers are seven places below them in 14th. The Blazers are not in playoff contention and were among the first teams to officially be eliminated from the running for the postseason. They are therefore playing for pride and will be seeking to snap a five-match losing run against the Pelicans. Chauncey Billups’ men are coming off a 124-107 defeat to the Celtics to conclude a gruelling seven-match road trip. They had won twice in succession before the trip to Boston and that run had ended a 10-match losing streak. Portland have been one of the whipping boys this season and currently have lost 57 games and possess the fifth-worst record. Jerami Grant is doubtful to play here and has missed more than a month of action with a hamstring issue. The Blazers have averaged 101.3 points over their last three games.

The Pelicans are coming off a big and crucial victory and will want to make it count by winning here. Taylor Jenkins’ men gave their top six hopes a big boost by defeating the Suns 113-105 away from home. Their 46th win of the season snapped a four-match losing run and allowed them to tie the Suns in sixth. They will now seek to win their remaining four games and try to avoid starting the post-season by playing in the play-in. The Pelicans had looked destined for at least a top-six finish before the start of April. They now are just 1.5 games clear of the Lakers in ninth place. But having dominated this matchup with the Blazers in recent seasons, they will be confident of a win here. Brandon Ingram remains sidelined with a knee issue and will not be available here. Naji Marshall has a 50/50 chance to be involved while Cody Zeller is once again available after missing several weeks. The Pels have averaged 110 points over their last three outings.