New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/2/2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Moda Center to play the Portland Blazers on Saturday, December 2, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Portland as 3.5 point favorites.

The Pelicans come into this game with an overall record of 11-10. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.9 as they are averaging 108.0 points per game while giving up 108.9 per contest. The Blazers have an overall record of 13-9. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.6 points per game and surrendering 99.0, good for a point differential of 3.6.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 12-9-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 10-11-0 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 8-12-2 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 6-16-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Demarcus Cousins comes into this contest averaging 25.1 points per game while playing 35.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Pelicans. He pulls down 12.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is currently at 76%. Jrue Holiday averages 15.7 points per game in 36.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.7 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averages 25.4 points per game while playing 36.5 minutes per contest this year for the Blazers. He grabs 5 rebounds per game and has 6.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage currently is at 92%. C.J. McCollum averages 21.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 2.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 108 points per contest this season, which ranks them 8th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.95 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 26th in the league. They average 43.5 rebounds per game and 26 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 5th with 16.6 per game. The Pelicans allow 108.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 17th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44 rebounds a game which ranks 20th and they give up 23.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 15.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 22nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 22nd in the league with 102.6 points per game this year. They are 26th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 3.68. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 47.3 boards per game, and 30th in assists per contest with 18.1. The Blazers are 13th in turnovers per game with 15.4. The Blazers surrender 99 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 17.9 assists allowed per contest and 5th with 41.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blazers are 3rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 108.2, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 12th. They are 7th in the NBA in pace with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 6th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA. New Orleans is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 14th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 14th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 30th in the league. The Blazers are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.5, and their defensive rating of 101.7 is ranked 29th. In terms of pace they are 21st in the league with 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 27th. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shots, ranking 28th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Pelicans/Blazers NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take New Orleans +3.5

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