New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions January 8th 2025

New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Trail Blazers January 8th 2025

At 8:00 ET, the New Orleans Pelicans (-143) will host the Portland Trail Blazers (+121) in a Western Conference matchup. The Pelicans are favored by 2.5 points and the over/under line is 226.5.

This game will be played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Pelicans are 15th in the Western Conference with a record of 7-30, while the Trail Blazers are 13th in the West at 12-23.

Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans
• Where: New Orleans at Smoothie King Center
• Date: Wednesday, January 8th
• Betting Odds NO -2.5, POR +121 | NO -143 O/U 226.5

The Trail Blazers Can Win If…

Portland’s season record dropped to 12-23 after a 118-115 road loss to the Pistons on Monday. The Blazers, who were +6.5 point underdogs, kept the game close, losing by just three points. The total score of 233 points exceeded the O/U line of 224.5 by 8.5 points.

Portland went on a 10-0 run early, turning an 11-9 deficit into a 19-11 lead. They led 60-51 at halftime but were outscored 37-30 in the 3rd quarter. Heading into the 4th with a 90-88 lead, the Blazers were outscored 30-25 in the final period.

Anfernee Simons knocked down 8 threes at a 66.7% clip, finishing with 36 points and 9 assists in the Trail Blazers’ 118-115 loss to the Pistons. Simons was clutch in the 4th quarter, scoring 17 points, while Portland hit 16 threes as a team, shooting 45.7% from deep and 53.3% overall.

Shaedon Sharpe contributed 20 points and 8 rebounds, and Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 11 boards. Toumani Camara scored 8 of his 12 points in the 3rd quarter, and Deni Avdija added 8 of his 14 points in the 2nd.

Defensively, the Trail Blazers started strong, giving up just 23 points in the 1st quarter, but they struggled in the 3rd, allowing 37 points, which contributed to their 118-115 loss to the Pistons. Portland let Detroit shoot 44% from the field.

The Trail Blazers allowed 15 threes on 34% shooting. They also sent the Pistons to the line 22 times, where they hit 19 free throws. Portland gave up 17 offensive rebounds while recording 6 steals and 4 blocks.

• In their last three road games, Portland has averaged 108 points per game while allowing 111. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 2-1.
• As the betting underdog, the Trail Blazers have an ATS mark of just 6-4 in their last ten games. Portland posted a straight up mark of 3-7 in these matchups.
• Over their last three games, the Trail Blazers have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Pelicans Can Win If…

New Orleans fell to 7-30 on the season after a 104-97 home loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday. The Pelicans, who were +4 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 201 points was well below the pre-game O/U line of 221.5.

New Orleans went on a 10-0 run to take a 53-45 lead, but the Timberwolves responded by outscoring them 29-21 in the 3rd quarter. The Pelicans entered the 4th quarter trailing 83-75 and couldn’t close the gap, despite edging Minnesota 22-21 in the final period.

The Pelicans struggled offensively in their loss to the Timberwolves, shooting just 37.2% from the field and 29.3% from three-point range. They hit 12 threes in the game, with Dejounte Murray leading the way, scoring 29 points and adding 6 assists, shooting 60% from the field.

Zion Williamson also shot 60%, finishing with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Jose Alvarado contributed 13 points, including 8 in the 4th quarter, and hit 3 threes in the game.

The Pelicans tightened up defensively after a rough 1st quarter, where they allowed 34 points, giving up just 21 in the 4th. Overall, they held the Timberwolves to 104 points on 42% shooting.

New Orleans sent Minnesota to the line 19 times, where they made 13 free throws. The Pelicans also recorded 12 steals and 5 blocks in the game.

• Although New Orleans has a straight up record of 1-2 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 1-2. The team averaged 110 points per game in these games.
• In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Pelicans have a straight up record of 2-3 and an ATS mark of 2-3.
• In their last five games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Not only do we have the Pelicans winning this one by a score of 146-136, but we see them covering the spread. Our pick is to grab the Pelicans at -2.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 226.5 and our model has the Trail Blazers and Pelicans finishing with a combined 282 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Pelicans Aim to Leverage Williamson-Murray Duo Against Blazers

The New Orleans Pelicans, anchored by the much-anticipated pairing of Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray, are eager to climb out of the Western Conference cellar as they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Despite enduring a rocky season plagued by injuries, the Pelicans see renewed hope in the powerful combination of their two stars.

A Glimpse of Potential

Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves marked the first time Williamson and Murray shared the court as teammates. Although their efforts fell short in a 104-97 loss, the duo showcased flashes of what could become a dominant partnership.

Williamson, playing in only his seventh game of the season after a 27-game absence due to a hamstring injury, contributed 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals in just over 27 minutes. Williamson emphasized the urgency to quickly regain his rhythm, knowing the Pelicans need his immediate impact to turn their season around.

“I feel like my legs are already under me,” Williamson said. “Now it’s just getting into a game rhythm. I’ve got to figure it out as quickly as possible.”

Murray complemented Williamson’s performance with a season-high 29 points, along with six assists and six steals. His ability to break down defenses and energize his teammates was evident, with head coach Willie Green applauding the duo’s potential.

“That’s a small sample size of what this team is capable of,” Green said. “Now we’ve got to string together more games like that and put together some wins.”

Blazers Look to Bounce Back

The Trail Blazers arrive in New Orleans following a disappointing 118-115 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Portland squandered a 22-point lead, a lapse that underscored the team’s struggles with consistency.

Guard Anfernee Simons was a bright spot, scoring a season-high 36 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter alone. Simons, who leads Portland in scoring with 18.6 points per game, highlighted his strategic approach to pacing himself before taking over in critical moments.

“I try to take my time during the game,” Simons explained. “The third and fourth quarters are when I start to establish myself and impose my will.”

Portland also relies on rookie Scoot Henderson, who shares the team lead in assists (5.1 per game) with Simons. However, the Blazers will need to tighten up defensively to prevent the Pelicans’ stars from dictating the game’s tempo.

Season Series Finale

Wednesday’s game concludes the season series between these two teams, with Portland leading 2-1. The teams split a pair of games in Portland during the season’s opening week, and the Blazers secured a convincing 118-100 victory in New Orleans on November 4.

For the Pelicans, avenging those losses and building chemistry between Williamson and Murray will be key. Meanwhile, Portland will aim to replicate the strong start it showed against Detroit while avoiding the costly lapses that have hindered its progress.

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High Stakes in the West

Though the season is far from over, this matchup carries weight for both teams as they fight to stay relevant in the Western Conference standings. The Pelicans are desperate to capitalize on the potential of their star duo, while the Blazers look to find consistency and maximize the talent of players like Simons and Henderson.

With both squads striving to find their footing, Wednesday’s contest offers an intriguing battle of ambition and strategy. The outcome could signal a turning point for either team as they look to reverse their fortunes in a competitive conference.