Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans betting tips and predictions for Wednesday’s NBA game on ESPN. The Pelicans are hoping to avoid losing their 5th straight game as they head to Moda Center for a match-up with the Blazers. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Portland Trail Blazers
Just as we suspected, Damian Lillard didn’t have enough energy to keep the Blazers afloat in their game last night against the Golden State Warriors. Although he started off by scoring 15 in the opening quarter, Lillard scored just 10 points the rest of the way and his Blazers wasted a 23-point lead against the defending champions.
Tonight’s game will be a 2nd night of a back-to-back, Portland has actually been decent in that scenario winning 6 of their 10 games this season. However, we have to take into account their injuries and there is plenty of them at the moment. Their starting center Jusuf Nurkic, starting shooting guard Anfernee Simons and Justise Winslow are all out, so the rotation has gotten a lot shorter which could hurt their chances in tonight’s game.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are no strangers to injuries themselves. They could be without Jonas Valanciunas, Josh Richardson, Larry Nance Jr., Zion Williamson and Jose Alvarado here. That’s quite the hit for a team that’s gone just 1-9 SU in their last 10 road games and have only 7 wins in 20 visits to Moda Center. Brandon Ingram and C.J.
McCollum are trying their best to keep the team afloat, but when you score just 8 and 6 threes as a team in consecutive games, you will not win many games in today’s NBA. That’s just one of many problems head coach Willie Green is dealing with right now, with just a half game separating these two teams in the standings, whoever comes out on top in tonight’s game will get a massive confidence boost moving forward.
Even though Portland won the first meting, I feel like the Pels have the edge here. They had an extra day of rest and have 2 stars available in Ingram and McCollum. Go with the upset here, Pelicans to cover.
Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans Predictions & Odds
The moment I saw this match-up I just knew I had to back the over. These two teams have combined to go 39-23-1 on the O/U in home/road games respectively, so it would be very surprising if we didn’t go over tonight’s projected total of 232.5 points. Portland has cashed on the over in 5 of 7 games overall and in 5 of 6 vs Western Conference opponents. When playing at Moda Center they are also 4-1 in favor of the over in their last 5.
The Pels have struggled scoring the ball, but that should change tonight as they take on the 27th ranked defensive efficiency in Portland. The Blazers just allowed 133, 126 and 138 points in 3 of their last 5 games, teams like Washington and Oklahoma City are having their way scoring the ball against them. Expect a big night from McCollum as he takes on his former team, but also don’t be shocked if Lillard goes for 40+ again. Back the over with confidence.
