Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction: The Trail Blazers are injury-ridden, the Pels have rhythm

The NBA Regular Season is now knocking on the door of the Postseason and we have reached a crucial stage where a win or loss can make a lot of difference for different teams. Therefore, it is necessary to keep a close eye on the affairs pertaining to the league. In another one of the affairs, the Portland Trail Blazers are going to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Trail Blazers enter the game after losing 112:118 against the Thunder despite an electric 29 points performance by Shaedon Sharpe. Portland has lost two in a row and they have lost eight in the nine games. The Trail Blazers have lost 42 and have won 32 games. They are practically out of the Play-in contention. Portland has been again over-relaying on Damian Lillard who has once again shattered Portland’s scoring records but this season looked different as the team began on a positive note courtesy of a hot start by Jerami Grant. However, the second half of the season has been tumultuous for the team. Anfernee Simons and Grant have long-term promises but will Portland be patient?

The Pelicans come into this game after defeating the Clippers 131:110 as Brandon Ingram scooped up 32 points and 13 assists. The Pels have won four in a row and this is the first instance of them winning four in a row since late December. A timeline that coincides with the injury to Zion Williamson. The current run has helped them back in the Play-in and even the Playoff contention. Brandon Ingram has been breathing fire and apart from being the first scoring option, he has assumed playmaking duties being in the 30-32 points and 7-13 assists range which has provided a major boost. Role players like Trey Murphy are getting more open looks because of that whereas Jonas Valanciunas’ rebounding plus scoring and CJ McCollum’s shot-creation have become more effective because of Brandon.

• Trail Blazers: OUT: Ibou Badji, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Justise Winslow. Likely: Jusuf Nurkic, Damian Lillard, Trendon Watford;
• Pelicans: OUT: Jose Alvarado, Zion Williamson, E.J. Lidell.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Brandon Ingram(30+ Points), Damian Lillard(27-33 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Jonas Valanciunas(13+ Rebounds), Jusuf Nurkic(10-13 Rebounds)-GTD;
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Brandon Ingram(8-11 Assists), Damian Lillard(7-10 Assists).

The Pels have been playing riveting basketball thanks to a huge burst of play by Brandon Ingram. Trail Blazers are likely to get Damian Lillard which will give a big boost to the second/third unit that showed a big fight in the last match-up. However, I see the Pelicans coming in with fire and nabbing their fifth straight win. I predict a scoreline of 122:115 in Pels’ favor.