Portland Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Game Picks 3/15/2019

Friday, March 15, 2019

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers head to Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, March 15, 2019. The opening line for this game has Portland as 6.5 point favorites.

The Blazers have a record of 41-26. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 3.6 as they average 114.0 points per game while giving up 110.5 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall mark of 30-40. They currently are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They total 115.6 points per contest and give up 115.6, which is a point differential of 0.0.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 38-29-0 against the spread this season

The Portland Blazers are 36-31-0 against the over/under this year

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 34-35-1 against the spread this season

The New Orleans Pelicans are 37-32-0 against the over/under this year

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

03/13/19 G Rodney Hood Hip is questionable Friday vs New Orleans

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

03/07/19 G E'Twaun Moore Quad is out indefinitely
03/07/19 PG Jrue Holiday Abdominal is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum comes into this game averaging 21.4 points per contest while playing 34.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Damian Lillard averages 26.0 points per contest in 35.4 minutes per game. He averages 6.5 assists per game and 4.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 91%.

Player Spotlight

Julius Randle scores 20.8 points per contest while playing 30.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 8.7 rebounds per contest and has 3.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 74%. Anthony Davis averages 26.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 12.2 rebounds per game and has 4.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 114.0 points per contest, which is 8th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 3.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 13th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They average 47.7 boards per contest and 22.8 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 17th with 14.0 per game. The Blazers allow 110.5 points per contest, which is 13th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 26th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.2 rebounds a game which ranks 4th, and they allow 23.1 assists per game which puts them in 7th place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 3rd in the NBA with 115.6 points per contest this season. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 24th in the league. They are 5th in the NBA in rebounding with 47.1 boards per contest and 4th in assists per game with 26.9. The Pelicans are 10th in turnovers per contest with 14.5. The Pelicans give up 115.6 points per game, which ranks them 27th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 20th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 26.5 dimes allowed per game and 18th with 45.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 10th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.6 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 5th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.8, and their defensive rating of 110.3 is ranked 16th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 99.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 14th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league. Portland is 20th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 17th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 9th in the league. The Pelicans are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.1, and their defensive rating of 112.1 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 103.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 10th. As a team they are 11th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Portland -6.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald