New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 4/17/2018

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

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 Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in Game 2 of their 1st round series. New Orleans leads the series 1-0. The opening line for this matchup has Portland as 6 point favorites.

The Pelicans head into this matchup after finishing the regular season with a mark of 48-34. They were 2nd in the Southwest Division. They had a point differential of 1.3 as they averaged 111.7 points per contest while giving up 110.4 per game. The Blazers had an overall mark of 49-33. They finished 1st in the Northwest Division. They totaled 105.6 points per contest and gave 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 comes into this contest averaging 28.1 points per game while playing 36.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Pelicans. He pulls down 11.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%. Jrue Holiday averages 19 points per game in 36.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6 assists per contest and 4.5 rebounds per game for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

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

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 111.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 14th in the league. They average 44.4 rebounds per game and 26.8 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 9th with 14.9 per game. The Pelicans allow 110.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 29th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 9th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.5 rebounds a game which ranks 25th and they give up 23.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

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

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.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Portland -6

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