Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks and Predictions October 25th 2024

Trail Blazers vs Pelicans October 25th 2024

The New Orleans Pelicans are a 5.5-point favorite over the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at the Moda Center. The over/under line for the game is 218.5.

This Western Conference matchup is set to tip off at 10:00 ET and can be seen on KATU.

Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers Key Information

The Pelicans opened their season with a 123-111 win over the Bulls on Wednesday, moving to 1-0. Playing at home, New Orleans was favored by 5 points and covered the spread with a 12-point victory. The total score of 234 points exceeded the pre-game line of 225.5 by 8.5 points.

New Orleans led 29-25 after the 1st quarter, but the Bulls edged them 33-30 in the 2nd. The Pelicans took control in the 3rd, outscoring Chicago 36-25, and entered the 4th with a 95-83 lead. Both teams scored 28 points in the final quarter.

Brandon Ingram’s 33 points on 56.5% shooting led the Pelicans to a win over the Bulls, with Ingram hitting 3 threes at a 60% rate. CJ McCollum added 23 points, connecting on 5 threes at 45.5%.

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New Orleans made 14 threes, shooting 37.8% from deep and 46.4% overall. Ingram scored 14 points in the 4th quarter, while McCollum added 10 in the final period.

Defensively, the Pelicans were solid in the 1st and 3rd quarters, allowing 25 points in each, but they struggled in the 2nd, giving up 33 points. Overall, they allowed 111 points on 48% shooting from the Bulls.

New Orleans did a great job defending the three, holding Chicago to just 10 made threes on 29% shooting. The Pelicans also recorded 15 steals and 10 blocks in the game.

The Trail Blazers opened their season with a 140-104 loss to the Warriors on Wednesday, dropping to 0-1. Portland, who were +7.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread at home. The total score of 244 points exceeded the pre-game O/U line of 221.5 by 22.5 points.

After a 21-21 tie in the 1st quarter, the Warriors took control with a 15-0 run, turning a 77-63 deficit into a 78-77 lead. Portland couldn’t recover, as Golden State outscored them 41-29 in the 2nd quarter, 38-22 in the 3rd, and 40-32 in the 4th.

Brandon Ingram’s 33 points and 7 rebounds led the Pelicans to a 123-111 win over the Bulls, as he shot 56.5% from the field and hit 3 threes at a 60% rate. CJ McCollum added 23 points, hitting 5 threes at 45.5% efficiency.

The Pelicans made 14 threes, shooting 37.8% from deep, while their overall field goal percentage was 46.4%. Ingram scored 14 points in the 4th quarter, and McCollum added 10 in the 3rd.

The Trail Blazers’ defense started strong in the 1st quarter, giving up just 21 points, but things unraveled from there as they allowed 41 points in the 2nd quarter, 38 in the 3rd, and 40 in the 4th, resulting in a 140-104 loss to the Warriors. Portland allowed Golden State to shoot 51% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Warriors hit 20 threes at a 41% clip. Portland sent Golden State to the line 30 times, where they made 24 free throws. The Trail Blazers gave up 15 offensive rebounds but did manage 10 steals and 4 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +5.5, we have the Trail Blazers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 218.5, and our model projects the Pelicans and Trail Blazers to reach a combined total of 282 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

One Star In, Another Out as Pelicans Face Trail Blazers

The New Orleans Pelicans head to Portland on Friday night with a mixed bag of news, getting Zion Williamson back from illness, but losing Dejounte Murray for an indefinite period due to a broken left hand. The Pelicans look to maintain momentum after a solid season opener, while the Trail Blazers aim to rebound from a tough loss in their own first game.

Williamson Returns, Murray Sidelined Indefinitely

The Pelicans will benefit from the return of Zion Williamson, who missed their opening game due to an illness. After a day of rest, Williamson practiced Thursday and is fully ready to rejoin the lineup.

Dejounte Murray, on the other hand, is facing an extended recovery after suffering a broken left hand late in the Pelicans’ 123-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Acquired from the Atlanta Hawks this offseason, Murray was expected to elevate New Orleans’ backcourt with his skill set and court vision. In his debut, Murray posted 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, showing he was already making an impact.

“We hate when our guys go down. I hate it for Dejounte and our group,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said. “We’re just getting started, but we know adversity is a part of life and the league. Thankfully, it’s not season-ending.”

Pelicans Lean on Depth Amid Injuries

With both Murray and sharpshooter Trey Murphy III out, New Orleans faces some early season lineup challenges. Murphy is nursing a hamstring injury and is not expected back until next month. The Pelicans will depend heavily on Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum to shoulder the scoring load. In the season opener, Ingram dropped 33 points, while McCollum added 23.

McCollum, a former star with the Trail Blazers, will look to continue his success against his old team. Last season, he averaged 27.3 points in three games against Portland, scoring 30 and 29 points in two of those matchups.

Trail Blazers Seek Redemption After Rough Opener

The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to bounce back from a tough 139-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Despite a strong start that saw Golden State miss its first nine shots, Portland struggled the rest of the way, getting outscored 118-83 over the final three quarters.

“It was a little embarrassing for the first game,” Portland center Deandre Ayton admitted. “This is the NBA. We have 81 more to go. We’re going to figure it out.”

Second-year guard Scoot Henderson led the Blazers with 22 points off the bench, while Jerami Grant added 16. Portland head coach Chauncey Billups stressed the need for sharper focus and communication on the floor, especially when facing tough opponents like the Warriors.

“Defensively, offensively, we were just two steps slow,” Billups said. “You can’t wait to react against a team like that.”

Injury Concerns Continue for Portland

Portland is also dealing with injuries to key players, with Shaedon Sharpe (shoulder), Robert Williams III (hamstring), and Matisse Thybulle (knee) all ruled out for Friday’s game. These injuries mean the Trail Blazers will once again rely heavily on Ayton, Henderson, and Grant to keep the game competitive against a Pelicans squad with considerable offensive firepower.

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Keys to the Matchup

1. Pelicans’ Offense Without Murray: Williamson’s return will be critical for New Orleans, who now needs to compensate for the loss of Murray’s playmaking and scoring abilities. Expect Green to lean on Ingram and McCollum even more, while giving Williamson room to dominate in the paint.
2. Trail Blazers’ Defensive Adjustments: Portland’s defense was caught off-guard by Golden State’s relentless pace. For the Trail Blazers to stand a chance against New Orleans, they’ll need to tighten up defensively and communicate more effectively, particularly in transition.
3. Bench Contributions: With multiple players sidelined, both teams’ benches will play a crucial role. Portland will look to Henderson and other backups to provide a scoring boost, while New Orleans will need players like Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall to step up with Murray out.

Final Thoughts

With Williamson back, the Pelicans have a slight edge in this matchup, though losing Murray impacts their offensive balance and backcourt presence. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, will be motivated to bounce back from a lopsided loss and make a statement at home.