Free NBA Pick: Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers NBA Odds
Looking for New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Pelicans taking on the Trail Blazers on Thursday, March 18 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Pelicans Trail Blazers matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(17-23) New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers (23-16)
Date: Thursday, March 18
Time: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: Moda Center, Portland, OR.
NBA Moneyline Odds: New Orleans -105 | Portland -115
NBA Betting Odds: Portland -2
NBA Betting Total: O/U 242
New Orleans Pelicans
After three consecutive blowouts immediately after the All-Star Break, in which they went 2–1, the Pelicans lost a one-point in Portland on Tuesday.
Damian Lillard knocked down four free throws in the final five seconds, including two with a second to go to hand the Trail Blazers the victory. Portland went into the fourth quarter down 13 points.
Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson combined for 58 points. Lonzo Ball threw a career-high 17 assists in the loss.
New Orleans shot 16-for-33 for three-point range (.485), though Portland didn’t shoot too bad either: 18-for-43 (.419).
That hot shooting sent a game that didn’t have a furious pace well over the rather high total. Despite the disappointing loss, New Orleans covered with the points.
Portland Trail Blazers
Lillard had 50 in the comeback win, his first 50-point game of the season. He added 10 assists and made all 18 of his free throws. He needed just 20 field goal attempts to get to 50 points.
CJ McCollum played in a game for the first time since January 16. He played 26 minutes, didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, and finished with 10 points.
Gary Trent Jr., who had been starting in McCollum’s place, played 31 minutes off the bench and scored 22 points.
Jusuf Nurkic is on his way back too but it won’t be in time for this game. He’s still about two weeks away from returning from a broken foot.
The Blazers will host Dallas immediately after this game in the second night of a back-to-back.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Pelicans are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
- Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Trail Blazers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Over is 25-4 in Pelicans last 29 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Pelicans last 7 road games.
- Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Head to Head: Pelicans are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Portland.
- Head to Head: Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Portland.
Free New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers NBA Prediction:
It took a big fourth quarter comeback and 50 points from Lillard for the Blazers to win by a point on Tuesday.
New Orleans has to the stuff to earn at least a split in this mini series but much will depend on how it responds after dropping a game it should have won.
Will the Pelicans come out more motivated to get that split? Or will they be dejected after the disappointment on Tuesday?
I’ll go with Portland to play a little better early than it did on Tuesday and win this one by enough to cover the small number.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Portland -2
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