New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Trail Blazers Predictions, Picks and Preview – NBA Playoffs Round 1 – April 17 2018

The New Orleans Pelicans upset the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 to take an early 1-0 lead in the series. Will the Pelicans keep their momentum and get to a 2-0 lead? Or will the Blazers avoid falling down a deeper hole with a victory this Tuesday?

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Betting Preview for New Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Trail Blazers NBA Western Conference Round 1 Game 2 on April 17 2018

Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter

When: Tuesday, April 17, 2018, 10:30 PM EST

Line: New Orleans Pelicans (spread) vs Portland Trail Blazers (spread) – view all NBA lines

TV Broadcast: TNT

Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans (+6.5)

For the first time in his pro career, Anthony Davis tasted victory in the playoffs after his Pelicans upset Portland in Game 1 on Saturday, 97-95. Davis went into beastmode in series opener, dropping 35 points and snaring down 14 rebounds to go with four blocks in 41 minutes of action. Also delivering big time for the Pellies was veteran guard Rajon Rondo who flashed his vintage form by dishing out 17 assists. He scored just six points but he impacted the game in so many ways. Jrue Holiday, meanwhile, won his matchup with Damian Lillard as he had 21 points (10-for-20 FG). The Pelicans’ chemistry has been fantastic, and the fact that the Blazers don’t have as talented and versatile of a big man to keep up with the Brow only made life harder for Portland, which also had to deal with stretch-four Nikola Mirotic. Mirotic’s shooting is giving Davis enough breathing room in the paint, and thus preventing the Blazers from ganging up on the MVP candidate center.

The Pelicans are 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall.

Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers (-6.5)

Where was Dame Time in Game 1? That was what most Portland fans were asking after Damian Lillard nearly turned into ghost last Saturday. Lillard had 18 points but it took him 23 shots to get there. C.J. McCollum also had a salty shooting night in Game 1, as he went 7-for-18 from the field for 19 points. That said, Portland nearly erased a 19-point halftime deficit with Lillard and McCollum finding their rhythm late. The two will have to get it going early next time around, as the Blazers can’t afford to trail big, especially with the Pelicans feeling confident of themselves. Pellies can now easily detect blood in the water and will not hesitate to press on the gas pedal if they see an opportunity. The Blazers should also continue to take advantage of their speed, as evidenced by their 29 fastbreak points in Game 1 as against New Orleans’ 17 markers on the open court.

The Blazers are 6-2-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.

Writer’s Prediction

Portland wins, 114-108.

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