It’s a good news/bad news situation for the New Orleans Pelicans in their first road game of the early NBA season in Portland as they should have All-Star Zion Williamson back from an illness but will be without starting guard Dejounte Murray.
The Pels are solid favorites on the NBA odds.
| Opening NBA Lines Subject to Change: Pelicans -6.5 (total 223) Expert Prediction: Pelicans 120, Blazers 115 |
Why Bet on New Orleans?
The Pelicans played without All-Star forward Zion Williamson on Wednesday night in their season opener and beat visiting Chicago 123-111 but also lost starting point guard and offseason trade addition Dejounte Murray to a broken hand.
The Bulls turned the ball over 21 times leading to 30 points for the Pelicans, while New Orleans only had 12 miscues leading to eight points for Chicago. New Orleans outscored the Bulls 29-18 in fast break points. The Pels also converted 14-of-37 (.378) from deep.
Brandon Ingram
Ingram, who has been mentioned in trades himself, took over with no Zion and finished with 33 points, seven rebounds and two assists in just 31 minutes. Ingram is set to be a free agent next offseason, and his primary focus in 2024-25 could be on staying healthy — he hasn’t played more than 64 games in a season since he was a rookie with the Lakers in 2016-17. Ingram has averaged better than 20.0 points, 5.0 boards and 5.0 assists in each of the last three seasons.
CJ McCollum
McCollum added 23 points and five assists. Defensive dynamo Herb Jones suffered a nasty fall during the third quarter when he collided in mid-air with teammate Daniel Theis while attempting to block a shot. Jones fell right on his hip and lower back, but after being evaluated for a few minutes, he returned to the game. Forward Trey Murphy missed the game as he deals with a hamstring strain. Murphy just signed a big extension.
McCollum will surely shift to the point guard role with Murray now out. The former All-Star went up for a 3-pointer with his team leading by 12 in the fourth quarter vs. Chicago, but was contested by Zach LaVine and took a hard fall. Murray had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. The timeline for a return after a hand fracture varies depending on the exact nature of the injury but the expected recovery time is approximately between 15 and 17 games.
Dejounte Murray
The Pelicans landed Murray in an offseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks. In that deal, they gave up two key reserves in Larry Nance Jr. and Dyson Daniels along with several draft picks. Murray was one of only two players in the NBA to finish the 2023-24 season with at least 1,500 points (1,753), 500 assists (502) and 100 steals (111), joining MVP Nikola Jokić.
Pelicans Injury Report for Friday's game 👏 #Pelicans | @MorrisBartLLC https://t.co/pFahvhtr13
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 24, 2024
As for Williamson, he should play Friday. But his absence on Wednesday night became his 207th missed regular season game in his injury-plagued pro career. In the 184 NBA games he has played, Williamson has averaged 24.7 points per game.
^Why Bet on Portland?
The Blazers are again expected to be one of the NBA’s worst teams this season and that was on display Wednesday in a 139-104 home loss to Golden State. Portland led by as many as nine points in the opening quarter, but the Warriors pulled ahead and led 62-50 at the break. Curry had a 3-pointer to open the second half and Golden State led by as many as 37 points the rest of the way.
Preseason
Despite looking like an improved unit while going 3-1 in the preseason play, the Trail Blazers were outplayed in just about every facet of the game. The Warriors out-rebounded the Blazers 58-41, handed out 17 more assists, had nearly twice as many second-chance points and, in perhaps the most glaring discrepancy, scored 26 more fast break points. Portland’s commitment to running and quick shots was on display from the opening tip and remained steady through much of the game.
It was the Blazers’ worst season-opening loss in franchise history. Portland’s previous worst loss to open a season was 1971, when the Blazers lost by 31 points to Seattle.
Chauncey Billups
“It was very disappointing,” said Trail Blazers head coach said. “You’ve got to give them credit, they came and did what they do. I really did think we were prepared for what they did… It just felt like we were two steps slow on everything. Defensively, offensively, we just waited to react all game. You can’t do that against a team like that.”
Scoot Henderson
Henderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, had 22 points, four rebounds and four assists – it was a surprise to see Henderson on the bench to begin the game, but the team elected to start Anfernee Simons and Toumani Camara in the backcourt. Henderson is coming off a rookie season in which he ranked top five among all rookies in assists per game (1st/5.4 apg), minutes per game (4th/28.5 mpg) and points per game (5th/14.0 ppg).
Scoot Henderson on Wednesday:
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) October 17, 2024
23-5-6-2, 10/14 FG, 0 TOV, +21 pic.twitter.com/Xpw7v595be
Jerami Grant
Grant finished with 16 points, three assists, two rebounds, a block and a steal, Deandre Ayton had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, and offseason addition Deni Avdija had 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.
If Avdija
Avdija continues to excel, he may keep the starting job when Shaedon Sharpe returns from a hamstring injury, which is not likely on Friday. Injury-plagued center Robert Williams was out with a hamstring injury as well and not likely for Friday.
With the addition of 7-footer Donovan Clingan in the first round of this year’s draft, Portland’s opening night roster stood at an average height of 79.94 inches (6’7) — the tallest average height of any NBA team. Portland’s roster features 11 players who stand at 6’7 or taller.
^How to Watch Pelicans at Trail Blazers
When: Friday, 10 PM ET
Where: Moda Center
TV: NBA League Pass
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com
Pelicans vs Trail Blazers Last Season
New Orleans was 3-0 vs. Portland last year, winning each by at least nine points. Pelicans head coach Willie Green was teammates with Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups on the LA Clippers during the 2012-13 season.
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2019 Pelicans vs Trail Blazers
New Orleans battles Portland in one of the more intriguing NBA matchups on Friday, Jan. 18. The Pelicans are 3 games below .500 and would like nothing more than to inch closer to a winning record with a victory against the Blazers. Portland’s one of the better teams in the NBA, though. Will the Pelicans pull off the upset? Or, will the Trailblazers get the win and cover?
Pelicans vs Trail Blazers NBA Lines & Betting Prediction
Why New Orleans Pelicans are a good bet +3?
Although The New Orleans Pelicans’ record is 21-24, they’ve played decent basketball this season. It starts with Anthony Davis, who might be the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. Davis averages close to 13 points and close to 14 boards per game.
He didn’t play in the last matchup with Portland. The Traiblazers beat the Pelicans 132-119 in that contest, but with Davis on the floor on Friday night, the outcome could be much different.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Points/G: 117.5
- Field Goal %: 48.1
- 3-Point %: 35.9
- Free Throw %: 77.7
- Rebounds/G: 47
Defense:
- Points/G: 115.5
- Field Goal %: 46.4
- 3-Point %: 36.9
- Free Throw %: 75.6
- Rebounds/G: 43.9
Why Portland Trailblazers are a good bet -3?
The Portland Trail Blazers’ 27-19 record has them about 5 games behind the Denver Nuggets and 2 games behind Oklahoma City in the Northwest. The Trailblazers can hang with anyone.
At home, Portland’s especially dangerous, going 16-10 against the spread. The Trailblazers are healthy with only Maurice Harkless listed as questionable. That means the backcourt of C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard can toss the rock to underrated center Jusuf Nurkic all night. A healthy Portland squad should easily handle a team like the Pelicans.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Points/G: 112.2
- Field Goal %: 46
- 3-Point %: 35.9
- Free Throw %: 81.5
- Rebounds/G: 48
Defense:
- Points/G: 110
- Field Goal %: 45.6
- 3-Point %: 36.9
- Free Throw %: 75
- Rebounds/G: 43.9
NBA Betting Trends for Pelicans vs Trail Blazers
- New Orleans is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 games
- New Orleans is 4-2 SU in the last 6 games
- The total went OVER in 5 of New Orleans’s last 7 games on the road
- Portland is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games
- Portland is 5-2 SU in the last 7 games
- The total went UNDER in 16 of Portland’s last 23 games
Pelicans vs Trail Blazers Final NBA Betting Analysis
New Orleans can run and gun with the best of them, but there’s a reason Warrior basketball only works for the Golden State Warriors. New Orleans ranks third in points scored per game. They rank twenty-seventh in points allowed per game.
Portland’s got the team that can keep up with New Orleans. Even though the Pelicans have an edge at the center position with Anthony Davis, heck with Davis they’ve got an edge in the entire front court, Nurkic is good enough to at least score with Davis. He might not have the defensive skills, but he can score with the possible MVP.
In the backcourt, nobody on New Orleans can hang with either McCollum or Lillard. That’s where Portland will take over this game. Davis will get his, but McCollum and Lillard will control the tempo and the matchup’s flow. The Trailblazers win and cover.
NBA Betting Pick: Portland Trailblazers -3
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