Big Easy Believer
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: Betting guide vs. Portland Trail Blazers

By Jason Reed

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 16: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers sits on the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 16, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 16: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers sits on the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 16, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

In their last game before Christmas Day, the New Orleans Pelicans are on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers after yet another loss.

So much for starting a winning streak after going on a terrible losing streak. The New Orleans Pelicans were unable to win their second game in a row on Friday against the Western Conference’s worst Golden State Warriors, falling 106-102.

However, on the bright side of things, I picked against the Pelicans in that game as they were traveling east to west and had a tough schedule prior to the game, which seemed to have a factor as the team narrowly lost.

The Pelicans got two days off to rest for the Portland Trailblazers, who are another team that have been very disappointing this season. The Blazers have not been anywhere near as bad as the Pelicans this season but their 14-16 record is much worse than anyone would have expected.

More from Big Easy Believer

However, the Blazers have won four games in a row and finally seem to be figuring things out. The good thing for the team is that they currently have the eighth seed in the Western Conference, so as long as they can play .500 basketball the rest of the season, they will probably make the playoffs.

The Pelicans are a great team to play if a team needs to get back into the swing of things as they are the second-worst team in the Western Conference. The betting lines reflect this as well as according to the Action Network, the Pelicans are six-point underdogs in this contest.

Against the spread prediction (14-13-1): New Orleans Pelicans +6

The Portland Trail Blazers do scare me matchup-wise as they have Hassan Whiteside, who might not be exceptional but is one of the most overpowering big men in the league and the New Orleans Pelicans lack size and typically get bullied down low.

If Whiteside is going to have the best game of his season, it is going to come against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Despite that, though, I am picking the Pelicans for the first time in several weeks. I said that I would not pick them as long as the losing streak continued and even though they won against Minnesota, I still picked against them against the Warriors.

Now is the time as I feel like this will be a high-scoring barrage where both teams continue to knock down threes, coming down to the wire.

Next. The perfect Week 16 outcomes. dark

I do not think the Pelicans are going to win this game but I am hopeful that they can keep it within two scores. For that reason, I will take them and the points.

Home/New Orleans Pelicans