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

Prediction published on 16/03/2024, 05:03  by Joseph King | Modified on 16/03/2024 at 05:19 in NBA Prediction

A Western Conference matchup in the NBA on Saturday evening sees the high-flying New Orleans Pelicans playing host to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Pelicans are having an excellent season and have really come along in the second half of the year to move up to a 40-26 record and fifth in the West standings. The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, will be looking towards next season as their 19-47 record ranks as the fifth worst in the NBA and 14th in the West.

New Orleans will be looking to extend their positive stretch of form as they seek their sixth win from the last seven appearances. Their last outing resulted in an excellent 112-104 home win over the fourth-placed LA Clippers, shortening the gap between the two teams to just two games in the standings. New Orleans ultra-athletic defense was on full display and at 111.1 average points allowed per game, now ranks as the eighth best squad on that side of the ball. Pelicans fans will feel like their team has a legitimate shot at a deep playoff run as there are only three teams in the NBA that rank better than them in adjusted net rating.

The Trail Blazers are coming off a 105-93 home loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday, marking their second defeat in the past three games. However, it hasn’t been all bad news for Portland who have been able to pull out some wins in recent games with two victories in their last four outings. These wins came over the Toronto Raptors in overtime and, most recently, the Atlanta Hawks last Wednesday. The Trail Blazers have a number of players listed on the injury report but should have 23.0 point per game scorer Afernee Simons ready to go for the trip to Nola.