Trail Blazers vs Pelicans

Portland’s 9-15 mark comes with a two-game losing streak, but that still looks far better than New Orleans’ 3-22 record and seven-game slide heading into tonight, especially with the Pelicans again without Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray and forced to lean heavily on Trey Murphy III and rookie big Derik Queen. With Deni Avdija driving a 117.4-points-per-game offense and functioning as Portland’s primary engine against a Pelicans defense that’s struggled even at home and lacks point-of-attack resistance without Murray, the Blazers’ remaining depth still compares favorably despite their own backcourt injury list featuring Scoot Henderson, Matisse Thybulle and the season-long absence of Damian Lillard. That mix of contrasting streaks, key-star absences on the Pelicans’ side and Portland’s overall offensive edge makes Trail Blazers -182 the preferred moneyline side, but the juiced price limits the payout enough that I’d grade it a solid B rather than an elite value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 11/12/2025 09:41am

New Orleans’ shorthanded offense, missing Williamson and Poole along with Murray, has managed just 113.0 points per game, while Portland averages 117.4, putting their combined scoring profile around 230 points—roughly 10 below tonight’s aggressive total of 240. With the Pelicans stuck in a seven-game losing streak that’s featured long, grindy half-court stretches through Queen and Murphy, and the Blazers dealing with their own perimeter injuries that trim pace and shooting even as Avdija shoulders more on-ball creation, this projects more like a mid-230s contest than a true shootout. Factoring in recent form, injury attrition on both sides and the inflated number, Under 240 (-112) is my preferred angle on the total and earns a B+ grade for both likelihood and value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 11/12/2025 09:41am

Trey Murphy III and Derik Queen have been doing everything they can for New Orleans, but the Pelicans’ 3-22 record and seven-game skid—often featuring multi-possession losses even at the Smoothie King Center—underscore how far this group is from stability right now. Portland, by contrast, has at least established a competent offensive baseline behind Avdija despite its own injuries, and now faces a Pelicans squad missing its three highest-usage veterans in Williamson, Poole and Murray, which tightens Willie Green’s rotation and exposes their bench when fatigue hits.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers)) Given those opposing trends, wing and interior matchup edges for the Blazers and the likelihood that New Orleans’ undermanned roster struggles to close late, Portland -4.5 (-112) is the side I’d rather have against the spread, though the Blazers’ own health questions and young-road-team volatility keep this at a B- instead of a higher grade. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 11/12/2025 09:41am