Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans 03/12/2023 Picks & Preview

The Portland Trail Blazers have been in poor form as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after falling painfully short to the 76ers in a heartbreaking 120-119 road loss on Friday.

Injuries:

  • Blazers

    • G Damian Lillard (calf) probable

    • F Justise Winslow (ankle) out

  • Pelicans

    • Not yet submitted
  • The Pelicans are 1-4 ATS in their last five games playing on zero days rest, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a losing record and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall
  • The Trail Blazers are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 road games, 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a losing record and 3-13 ATS in their last 16 road games against a team with a winning home record
  • The Under is 4-0 in the Blazers’ last 4 games against a team with a losing record and 7-1 in their last 8 road games against a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600. They also have an O/U record of just 13-22 on the road this season.
  • The Under is 5-0 in the Pelicans’ last 5 games and 4-0 in their last 4 against a team with a losing outright record. They also have an O/U record of 14-18 at home this season.
  • Head to head, the Under is 6-0 in the last six meetings overall and the Trail Blazers are 4-9 ATS in the last 13 meetings in New Orleans

The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center on Sunday night

The Trail Blazers are still shorthanded as Ryan Arcidiacono and Justise Winslow are still out, while the Pelicans are still missing Jose Alvarado, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The Trail Blazers have really been in a funk lately and their confidence took a real hit after they wasted a 21-point lead against the 76ers on Friday, but something tells me that Lillard is going to have a big game against his former teammate, McCollum.

If the New Orleans offense is going to turn things around, not only do they need to improve their outside shooting but they must do a better job protecting the ball On defense, the Pelicans will look for some improved play, as they are currently the 13th ranked unit in points allowed per game