No team in the NBA may rely on one player more than the New Orleans Pelicans lean on Anthony Davis. So when the team’s superstar big man has an injury, that’s not a good thing. Davis is dealing with an elbow injury that has kept him sidelined the past two games. The Pelicans hope to have him available when they face off against the Portland Trail Blazers this week.
Both of these teams expect to be in the playoff mix in the Western Conference this season, and they could very well be jockeying against each other for positioning as the year goes on. The Blazers are healthy and playing well, so they will clearly be the favorites in this matchup in NBA betting.
This NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Portland Trail Blazers will be held at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon at 9:30 p.m ET on Thursday, November 1st, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
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Odds Analysis
The Trail Blazers are 5-2 on the season and they have won two consecutive games over the Pacers and the Rockets, both of which came on the road. The Pelicans are 4-2 on the year with two straight defeats to the Jazz and Nuggets.
The Blazers and Pelicans are two of the highest-scoring teams in the NBA, so the scoring total figures to be a high one, and there will need to be a lot of points for the “over” to hit in NBA odds.
Injury Report
Davis has missed the past two games due to the elbow injury. How important is he to the Pelicans? They are 4-0 with him on the court and 0-2 without him. Davis is averaging 27.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.8 blocks and 2.5 steals per game.
He is an incredible athlete and could be in the mix for the MVP as long as he remains healthy. The elbow issue does not seem to be an incredible one, but it’s important to check on the status of Davis heading into this one. Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic and Julius Randle will aim to pick up the slack if he cannot go but the Pelicans are not a playoff team without Davis.
Key Stat
30.8. That’s the points per game Damian Lillard is averaging this season, which is a big jump up from his career average of around 23 points per game. Lillard has been an All-Star talent for years but he has taken another encouraging step forward early in the year.
He is shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three-point range as well as being an elite free throw shooter. Lillard is adding 5.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per contest. If the Blazers are able to make a push toward the top of the West it will be on the back of Lillard, who has turned into one of the best players in the NBA.
Free NBA ATS Picks
Portland will be the favorite no matter what, but if Davis cannot go it’s a big blow to New Orleans’ chances. The injury seems like it could be healed enough for this one, which will keep the game closer.
However, the Blazers are a slightly more talented and well-rounded team. They also get the home court advantage and should be able to come up with the victory. Check to see where the spread comes in for this one in NBA wagering.
NBA ATS Pick: Portland Trail Blazers 121, New Orleans Pelicans 113
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