Expert Top Pick of the Day: Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Expert Top Pick of the Day: Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Portland Trail Blazers had their last shot, and it’s now too late to get back to the road for the playoffs. With a 27-52 overall season record, the Blazers are fourth in the Northwest Division and 13th overall in the Western Conference. With the end of the regular season approaching, it’s about making the most of every game left.
With three games left in the regular season, New Orleans has already qualified for the play-in tournament to fight for a direct ticket to the playoffs. The Pelicans are ninth overall in the Western Conference and are just one game ahead of the San Antonio Spurs and four games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers. So it’s all about consistency in these last few games.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans Schedule
- Date: Thursday, April 7, 2022
- Time: 07:00 PM CDT
- Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Trail Blazers Look to Finish on a High Note
It’s too late for the Blazers to turn their season around. But, with eight straight losses, the team has enough time to at least find its way back to a better place. Breaking away from a long losing streak is the first step.
Anfernee Simons leads the Blazers with 17.3 points and 3.9 assists per game, and center Jusuf Nurkic has averaged 11.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on the defensive front.
The team still has a chance to get back on track and finish the season on a positive note. It’s never too late to end a negative streak that could potentially reach ten games.
Pelicans Have Secured Play-In Tournament Ticket
The Pels are one of the four Western Conference teams that have qualified for the play-in tournament. The Spurs are just one win away from them and three games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings.
Jonas Valanciunas still leads the Pelicans on both ends of the court. The center currently stands with 17.9 points per game and a 54.3% field goal percentage. Valanciunas has also averaged 11.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game on the defensive end.
With a recent 123-109 win over the Sacramento Kings, the Pelicans are ready to now face the Spurs at the play-in tournament stage. The Pelicans are all set for one of their last home games, with just three more games left on their regular-season calendar.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans Odds Comparison
The Blazers could potentially upset the Pelicans as the season winds down. The total has gone under in six of their last eight games for Portland. As for the Pelicans, the total has gone over in five of their last six games overall.
- DraftKings has the Pelicans at -2500 on a spread of -17, and the game total is 224.
- FanDuel has the Pelicans at -2200 on a spread of -17, and the total is 224.
- Caesars has the Pelicans at -2400 on a spread of -17, and the total is 224.
Goods Pick or Prediction of the Game
The Blazers have nothing to lose and can only really climb up to remind themselves of what a win feels like. The last time Portland was able to finish a game on positive numbers was on March 21, with a 119-115 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
- Godds Pick/Prediction: The Pelicans will win, and the over hits.
