NBA Betting: Portland vs New Orleans
Saturday NBA betting action sees the Portland Trail Blazers taking on the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, LA. Cappers picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
Two of the leagues best power forwards, Anthony Davis and LeMarcus Aldridge, will meet for the second time this year after the Blazers got the best of the Pelicans in their first meeting winning 102-93.
NBA Basketball Odds
Portland Trail Blazers (21-6) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (13-12)
Saturday, Dec. 20
7:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center/New Orleans, LA
FSN
NBA Betting Odds: OFF as of 11pm PT Friday Night
NBA O/U Odds: OFF as of 11pm PT Friday Night
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Portland
After defeating the Spurs for the second time in five days, the Trail Blazers bring a three game win streak into this contest. The two-headed monster of LeMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard has been nothing short of amazing thus far this year.
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Aldridge is averaging 22.2 points per game to go along with 10.4 rebounds while Lillard is averaging 20.8 points and 6.2 assists. The Trail Blazers have been playing excellent team basketball lately, but will have to deal with the loss of starting center Robin Lopez who is expected to miss around six weeks with a fractured hand.
Portland has been getting big contributions from their role players as of late too. Shooting guard Wesley Matthews is averaging 16.3 points per game and has a PER of 16.0.
After dropping two in a row to Minnesota and Chicago, the Blazers have been using their rebounding ability to win. They rank first in the league in rebounds per game with 46.6.
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Lillard and Aldridge will have their hands full in this game matching up with the two young talented stars Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis.
New Orleans
Coming off a huge 30 point 14 rebound night, Anthony Davis led the Pelicans over the Rockets 99-90. New Orleans is playing great team basketball. They rank seventh overall in the league in scoring with 103.1 points per game and 13th overall in assists with 21.8.
Anthony Davis is developing into superstar this year by putting up insane numbers in all categories. Davis has a ridiculous player efficiency rating of 33.9 which ranks first overall in the league. He averages 24.8 points per game, 10.3 rebounds, 1.83 steals, and 2.83 blocks. The most impressive aspect of all these statistics is the fact that he is only averaging 1.3 turnovers per game, which is a team best.
Small forward Tyreke Evans is having a monster year as well. He is putting up 17.0 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds. Evans has turned out to be a key piece of this Pelicans ball club and has really helped Anthony Davis turn this franchise around.
The Pelicans have won their past two games against western conference opponents and the win against Houston has been their biggest accomplishment this year.
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Davis has posted at least 30 points and nine rebounds in the past two and has been doing it all on both ends of the floor.
NBA Handicapping Trends:
- Blazers are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
- Blazers are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Pelicans are 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Pelicans are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with winning % over .600.
- Blazers are 2-7 ATS in the last nine head to head meetings.
NBA Gambling Prediction
Portland has recently been playing well on the road, but not against the spread. They are also playing the back end of a back to back in which the game went into three overtimes. I expect the Blazers to come out sluggish and the Pelicans to jump on them early. The matchup of Davis and Aldridge will be extremely intriguing and will have a big impact on the outcome of this contest. Look for Tyreke Evans to contain Damian Lillard and if he can do so the Pelicans have a good chance of coming out of this game with the victory.
Free 4* NBA Betting Pick: NO Moneyline
If Davis can score and rebound with Aldridge and Evans can contain Lillard the Pelicans will set themselves up for a win. The Blazers will be worn down from playing a three overtime thriller and might not be prepared for a young Pelicans squad.
Pelicans 108, Blazers 104
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
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