New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers 4/17/18, Prediction & Odds

Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers Prediction

With a victory on the road in Game 1, the New Orleans Pelicans made a statement to the Portland Trail Blazers they would be a tough out this postseason. Is New Orleans capable of a second straight win in Portland tonight?

Game Snapshot

709 New Orleans Pelicans at 710 Portland Trail Blazers

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Moda Center at 10:30PM ET

TV: TNT

Public Betting Information

According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Trail Blazers are a 6-point favorite on the spread line. The total sits at 214 points. As of Tuesday afternoon, 51 percent of public bets are being placed on visiting New Orleans. Check out our NBA Public Betting Page for up-to-date information.

Davis outstanding in win

New Orleans power forward Anthony Davis has carried his team so often since the ruptured Achilles suffered by teammate DeMarcus Cousins over the winter. Davis was at it again in the first win of his playoff career, tallying 35 points and 14 rebounds in a 97-95 victory. Davis and his New Orleans teammates withstood a 32-22 surgue by Portland in the fourth quarter to hold on. Jrue Holiday also had an efficient game with 21 points on 10-of-20 shooting to go with seven rebounds.

Blazers need more from star guards

New Orleans has not defended guards well all season, whether it be point guards or shooting guards. Portland has two outstanding guards in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The duo was not bad by any stretch from 3-point distance in Game 1 as they combined to go 8-of-19 from that range, but from inside the arc they were only a combined 5-of-22 from the field. McCollum finished with 19 points, while Lillard added 18. In order for the Trail Blazers to be successful, they usually need at least one of the guards to have a fantastic scoring game. Whether they get that in Game 2 will be a huge key.

NBA Betting Trends

New Orleans

The Pelicans are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games. New Orleans is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.

Portland

The under is 5-1 in the last six Trail Blazers games following a straight up loss. The under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings in Portland.

Prediction:

I have a hard time picking either of these teams in Game 2. I guess I would side with the Pelicans because the spread seems a bit too wide even for a desperate Trail Blazers squad. But instead I'm looking at the under. New Orleans has played better defense of late and its scores have gone down for the most part. Portland has been solid defensively most of the season. After only 192 points scored in Game 1, it seems like too much to ask for the total to climb all the way to 214. Go with the under.

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: PELICANS/TRAIL BLAZERS UNDER 214

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