It’s do-or-die time for the Portland Trail Blazers, as they are now trailing the New Orleans Pelicans in their first-round series, 0-3. Can Damian Lillard and company avoid an embarrassing sweep? Or will the Pelicans finish Portland and move on to the next round?
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Betting Preview for Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA Western Conference Round 1 Game 4 on April 21 2018
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: Saturday, April 21, 2018, 5:00 PM EST
Line: Portland Trail Blazers (spread) vs New Orleans Pelicans (spread) – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT, FSOK
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers (+6.5)
Whatever it is that’s causing Damian Lillard his very untimely slump, the point guard will have to shake it off soon, as the Blazers are a loss away from an early exit from the playoffs. Lillard is averaging 18.3 points in the series, but is making just 32.7 percent of his shots. His inefficiency is dragging the Portland’s offense down, though, there is also not a time for Portland to stop letting Dame take his shots. One player who is stepping up for Portland is Al-Farouq Aminu, who had 21 points in Game 3 and 14 in Game 2. He is shooting 50 percent on the series. Adding to the headache of Portland is its troublesome ball security. The Blazers committed 24 turnovers in Game 3 resulting in New Orleans scoring 35 point from those errors as against Portland’s 17 points off of Pelicans miscues. Portland is averaging just 99.7 points on 42.8 percent shooting in this series and is also picking up 17.3 turnovers per contest. The Blazers are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans (-6.5)
Nikola Mirotic was the man for the Pelicans in Game 3, as the sweet-shooting stretch-forward went 12-for-15 from the field with four 3-points to finish with a team-high 30 points in Game 3. Of course, he did get plenty of help from his teammates with Antony Davis producing 28 points with 11 rebounds, while Rajon Rondo kept the Playoff Rondo persona with 16 points and 11 assists. The Pelicans’ offense is scary. They are shooting 50.6 percent from the field in this series and are knocking down 41.3 percent of their 3-point shots. With Mirotic and company spacing the floor well to give Davis open lanes in the shaded area and with Rondo finding teammates for easy buckets, the Pelicans are steamrolling over the stumped Blazers team that looks utterly befuddled on defense. The Pelicans, who are averaging 109.0 points in the series, are 3-0 ATS in their last three at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Portland avoids getting swept with a 110-106 win in Game 4.
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