New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Blazers - 12/23/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Trail Blazers

Date: Monday, December 23, 2019

Location: Moda Center in Portland, OR

TV: NBA TV

Odds/Point Spread: Portland -6

Total/Over-Under: 231

Moda Center is the venue where CJ McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers (14-16, 4th in the Northwest Division) will play the New Orleans Pelicans (7-23, 5th in the Southwest Division) on Monday. The odds on this matchup have Portland as 6 point favorites. The over/under is set at 231.

The Pelicans cover the spread 34.5% of the time, having gone 10-19-1 ATS. Portland is covering 46.4% of the time, going 13-15-2 against the spread.

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/18/2019 Zion Williamson SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 8
8/29/2019 Darius Miller SF Achilles Expected to be out until at least Apr 1

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/21/2019 Carmelo Anthony SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 23
12/9/2019 Jusuf Nurkic C Lower Leg Expected to be out until at least Feb 15
12/7/2019 Rodney Hood SG Achilles Out for the season
11/12/2019 Zach Collins PF Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Mar 15

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday comes into this game averaging 19.6 points per contest while playing 36.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 67%. Brandon Ingram averages 25.3 points per contest in 33.8 minutes per game. He averages 3.8 assists per game and 7.0 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum scores 22.4 points per contest while playing 36.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.5 rebounds per contest and has 3.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Damian Lillard averages 26.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 36.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.2 rebounds per game and has 7.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 111.9 points per contest, which is 12th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -6.6 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 23rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They average 45.0 boards per contest and 24.7 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 12th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 6th with 16.0 per game. The Pelicans allow 118.5 points per contest, which is 28th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 23rd and 23rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.5 rebounds a game which ranks 24th, and they allow 25.1 assists per game which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 15.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 16th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 8th in the NBA with 112.8 points per contest this season. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -0.63. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 7th in the league. They are 6th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.7 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 20.0. The Blazers are 26th in turnovers per contest with 13.8. The Blazers give up 113.4 points per game, which ranks them 21st in the league. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 9th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 22.9 dimes allowed per game and 29th with 47.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 6th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 113.4, and their offensive rating of 107.1 is ranked 26th. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 103.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 17th. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. New Orleans is 12th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 8th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 28th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 21st in the NBA. The Blazers are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 110.9, and their offensive rating of 110.3 is ranked 18th. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 101.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 19th. As a unit they are 16th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 19th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New Orleans +6

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