New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Blazers Prediction, 3/18/2021 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Blazers

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021

Location: Moda Center in Portland, OR

TV: NBC Sports Northwest

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans (+3)

The New Orleans Pelicans (17-23) are headed to Moda Center on Thursday where they'll meet the Portland Blazers (23-16). Portland opens this game as 3-point favorites. The over/under is set at 242.

The New Orleans Pelicans played the Blazers and went home with a loss by a final score of 125-124 in their last contest. New Orleans ended the game with a 52.3% field goal percentage (46 out of 88) and knocked down 16 of 33 shots from distance. At the free throw line, the Pelicans buried 16 of their 20 tries for a percentage of 80.0%. In the matter of pulling down boards, they earned 41 with 10 of them being on the offensive end. They also doled out 38 assists for the matchup in addition to forcing the other team into 17 turnovers and getting 8 steals. Pertaining to the defense, New Orleans allowed 52.1% from the floor on 38 of 73 shooting. Portland distributed 20 assists and had 8 steals for this game. Moreover, Portland collected 32 boards (4 offensive, 28 defensive) and added 3 blocked shots. Portland walked away from this one shooting 100.0% at the free throw line by burying 31 of 31 tries. They made 18 out of their 43 tries from distance.

Brandon Ingram is one guy who had an impact in this game. He finished with 30 points on 10 out of 22 shooting. He played for 36:27 mins and snagged 6 rebounds. Ingram finished 45.5% from the floor and also totaled 2 dimes. An additional guy that was a major contributor in this matchup for the Pelicans was Zion Williamson. He had 5 rebounds in his 32:37 minutes on the hardwood. He ended up going 64.7% from the field for the contest by going 11-of-17 (28 points). When all was said and done, Williamson had 8 assists.

New Orleans will play this contest with a win-loss mark of 17-23 for the season. They are giving up possession 14.2 times per contest and as a squad they are committing 17.7 fouls on a nightly basis. As a unit, New Orleans is pulling in 46.6 rebounds per game and is sitting with 1,050 dimes this year, which ranks 3rd in basketball in terms of passing the rock. The Pelicans are hitting 35.8% on three-point shots (453 of 1,264) and 73.2% from the free throw line. They currently have an average of 115.9 points per outing (4th in the NBA) while shooting 48.7% from the floor. When they are on the defensive end, the Pelicans are forcing their opponents into 13.0 turnovers per contest and they draw 20.8 fouls. The Pelicans defensively are giving up an opponent FG percentage of 47.5% (520 of 832) and they relinquish 40.0 boards per contest as a squad. They are currently ranked 30th in basketball in allowing assists with 1,080 conceded for the year. They concede 39.1% from 3-point land and they are ranked 27th in the NBA in PPG allowed (115.7).

In their win over New Orleans, the Blazers recorded 28 defensive rebounds and 4 offensive boards totaling 32 in this matchup. They turned it over 17 times, while earning 8 steals in the game. The Pelicans were called for 24 fouls for the matchup which took the Blazers to the charity stripe for a total of 31 attempts. They were able to make 31 of the free throw attempts for a rate of 100.0%. Concerning shots from distance, Portland buried 18 out of 43 tries (41.9%). When all was said and done, the Blazers ended up going 38 out of 73 from the floor which gave them a percentage of 52.1%. The Blazers allowed the Pelicans to convert 46 of their 88 attempts from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 52.3% in the matchup. They wrapped up this game 48.5% from downtown by connecting on 16 out of 33 and ended up going 16 of 20 at the free throw line (80.0%). With respect to rebounding, Portland allowed New Orleans to snag 41 in all (10 offensive).

Damian Lillard ended up being a factor for the Blazers in this matchup. He converted 13 of 20 for this contest giving him a field goal percentage of 65.0%, and had 6 rebounds. Lillard racked up 50 points in his 40:36 mins on the court and accumulated 10 assists for the game. One more player who was a determining factor for Portland was Enes Kanter. He finished this one with no assists in 27:42 minutes on the hardwood, and he knocked down 4 out of 6 from the floor. Kanter walked away from this one going 66.7% from the field while totaling 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Portland has a mark of 23-16 so far this season. Portland has scored 4,490 points this season (115.1 per contest) and they collect 43.6 boards per game. The Blazers are responsible for committing 19.5 fouls per game and they connect on 83.4% from the free throw line. On the offensive side of the ball, the Blazers are connecting on 44.8% from the floor, which is ranked 26th in the league. Their rate of assisting teammates is at 20.3 times per game (30th in basketball) and they lose possession via turnover 11.7 times per game. The Blazers defensively are ranked 26th in the NBA in PPG given up with 115.6. They have given up 25.3 assists and 46.3 total rebounds per game, which ranks them 21st and 24th in the NBA. The Portland defense concedes 37.5% on three-point shots (505 of 1,348) and opponents are knocking down 77.6% of their free throw attempts. They are forcing 12.8 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 47.9% from the field (26th in basketball).

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take New Orleans (+3)

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