New Orleans faces conference foe Portland

Sat, Mar 16, 2024
NBA News (AP)

Portland Trail Blazers (19-47, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (40-26, fifth in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Pelicans -13.5; over/under is 212.5

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans hosts Portland in a matchup of Western Conference teams.

The Pelicans are 25-18 in conference play. New Orleans is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Jonas Valanciunas averaging 6.9.

The Trail Blazers are 8-35 in Western Conference play. Portland is ninth in the Western Conference allowing only 115.7 points while holding opponents to 49.2% shooting.

The Pelicans are shooting 48.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points lower than the 49.2% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 11.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.8 fewer made shots on average than the 13.5 per game the Pelicans allow.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 93-84 in their last meeting on Feb. 11. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 24 points, and Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers with 24 points.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Zion Williamson is shooting 58.0% and averaging 22.5 points for the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram is averaging 17.9 points over the last 10 games.

Grant is averaging 21 points for the Trail Blazers. Anfernee Simons is averaging 22.5 points and 5.9 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 112.4 points, 47.0 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 6.5 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.3 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 109.2 points, 44.2 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.4 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Dyson Daniels: out (knee).

Trail Blazers: Malcolm Brogdon: out (elbow), Jerami Grant: day to day (hamstring), Robert Williams III: out for season (knee), Jabari Walker: day to day (hip), Anfernee Simons: day to day (knee), Shaedon Sharpe: out (abdominal).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.