Fernando Pérez
This Sunday of the best basketball in the world will close with a crucial duel for the Play-In aspirations between Trail Blazers vs Pelicans. With less than a month remaining in the regular season, both franchises are vying for a top-10 finish in the Western Conference.
This will be the third direct confrontation between the two so far in the competition, with one win per side. The first game went to Portland 106-95 back in November 2022. Already on March 1 of this year, New Orleans took revenge at the Moda Center in Oregon by a resounding 121-110 score.
Right away, JefeBet brings you the best Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans preview, where you can find our predictions, the best available betting odds and the most relevant information of the match.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA Regular Season Game on March 12, 2023
- Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
- When: Sunday, March 12, 2023, 6:00 PM E.T.
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
- Regular season record: 31-36.
The Trail Blazers are unable to find the consistency that will finally get them into the conversation in the West. They register two consecutive losses to the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers respectively, the latter in a tight 119-120 win, with an outstanding performance by Joel Embiid, author of 39 units.
If the visitors are still hoping to qualify for the Play-In, it is largely because of Damian Lillard. The point guard seems to be at his best, so much so that with an average of 32.1 points per performance, he is the third leading offensive player in the NBA.
In addition, he holds the third-best mark in the number of three-pointers scored per game, with 4.2. Thanks to this record, he is only behind two heavyweights of the category, such as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. These numbers encourage betting on high scoring by Dame heading into this Trail Blazers vs Pelicans game.
It is also important to mention that playing on the road, the team led by Chauncey Billups owns a negative record of 14-21. Their last two setbacks occurred in that condition, and this is something they will have to change if they want to have a chance of reaching the final stage of the championship.
Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans
- Regular season record: 32-34.
The squad led by Willie Green is currently in tenth place in the conference, but has the Utah Jazz just half a game behind. The Pelicans have now lost three times in their last five games. However, in the last game they achieved an outstanding success at home against the Dallas Mavericks by 113-106. C.J. McCollum was the big architect of the win with 32 points.
In New Orleans, inconsistency reigns, especially after the mid-season departure of Zion Williamson. As visitors, the franchise lost 23 of its 34 challenges. However, heading into this Trail Blazers vs Pelicans game, they have won 21 of their 32 meetings at home.
JefeBet Prediction
We are in the presence of a match that denotes extreme parity. Both teams average 114 units per game and concede between 113 and 115 points per game. The similarity is even found in the field goal percentage, where both teams register a 48%.
The one thing that could tip the scales is the strength of New Orleans playing at the Smoothie King Center. For this reason, for Trail Blazers vs Pelicans, we at JefeBet are leaning towards a close home win in Louisiana.
Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans Moneyline (POR 106-112 NOP).
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