New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 4/14/2018

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans head to Moda Center to take on the Portland Blazers on Saturday, April 14, 2018. The opening line for this game has Portland as 4.5 point favorites.

The Pelicans head into this matchup with a mark of 48-34. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.3 as they are averaging 111.7 points per contest while giving up 110.4 per game. The Blazers have an overall mark of 49-33. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 105.6 points per contest and giving up 103.0, which is a point differential of 2.6.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 46-35-1 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 47-35-0 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 44-33-5 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 35-47-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out for season
01/27/18 F DeMarcus Cousins Achilles is out for season

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

03/27/18 F Maurice Harkless Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Anthony Davis averages 28.1 points per contest in 36.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.3 assists per game and 11.1 rebounds per contest for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 53% for the season while his free throw percentage is 83%. Jrue Holiday comes into this game averaging 19 points per contest while playing 36.1 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 4.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Jusuf Nurkic averages 14.3 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 26.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 9 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 63%. C.J. McCollum has scored 21.4 points per contest while playing 36.1 minutes per game this season for the Blazers. He hauls in 4 rebounds per contest and has 3.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 110.4 points per contest which is 29th in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.5 rebounds a game which ranks 25th, and they allow 23.7 assists per game which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the NBA. New Orleans averages 111.7 points per contest this year, which is 3rd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 1.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 2nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They average 44.4 boards per contest and 26.8 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 9th with 14.9 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers give up 103 points per game, which ranks them 5th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 16th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 20.2 dimes allowed per game and 13th with 42.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 2nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per contest this year. Portland is 17th in the NBA with 105.6 points per contest this season. They are 20th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 2.6. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 11th in the league. They are 3rd in the NBA in rebounding with 45.5 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 19.5. The Blazers are 24th in turnovers per contest with 13.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 108.3, and their offensive rating of 109.6 is ranked 17th. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 4th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 20th in the NBA. New Orleans is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 25th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 27th in the NBA. The Blazers are 15th in the league in defensive rating with 106.4, and their offensive rating of 109.1 is ranked 23rd. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 96.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 23rd. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take New Orleans +4.5 and over 215 total points

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