Who's Playing

New Orleans @ Portland

Current Records: New Orleans 17-23; Portland 23-16

What to Know

This Thursday, the Portland Trail Blazers are hoping to patch up the holes in a defense that has allowed an average of 115.59 points per contest. They have the luxury of staying home another game and will welcome the New Orleans Pelicans at 10 p.m. ET March 18 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the Trail Blazers and New Orleans will really light up the scoreboard on Thursday.

The Pelicans are out to make up for these teams' game on Tuesday. Portland escaped with a win by the margin of a single free throw, 125-124. The win came about thanks to a strong surge after the half to overcome a 64-50 deficit. Point guard Damian Lillard took over for Portland, finishing with 50 points (a whopping 40% of their total) and ten dimes along with six boards.

Barring any buzzer beaters, Portland is expected to win a tight contest. Those sticking with them against the spread have guts, to put it politely, as the team has let down bettors in their past five games.

Portland's victory lifted them to 23-16 while New Orleans' defeat dropped them down to 17-23. Dame will be someone to keep an eye on after he shot 6-for-13 from downtown and finished with a double-double on 50 points and ten assists in addition to six rebounds on Tuesday. Let's see if he can build on that strong performance or if New Orleans' defense can bottle him up.

How To Watch

  • When: Thursday at 10 p.m. ET
  • Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter -- Portland, Oregon
  • TV: The Sports Network
  • Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
  • Follow: CBS Sports App

Odds

The Trail Blazers are a slight 1-point favorite against the Pelicans, according to the latest NBA odds.

The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as the game opened as a 1-point spread, and stayed right there.

Over/Under: -111

See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now.

Series History

New Orleans have won 14 out of their last 25 games against Portland.

  • Mar 16, 2021 - Portland 125 vs. New Orleans 124
  • Feb 17, 2021 - Portland 126 vs. New Orleans 124
  • Feb 21, 2020 - New Orleans 128 vs. Portland 115
  • Feb 11, 2020 - New Orleans 138 vs. Portland 117
  • Dec 23, 2019 - New Orleans 102 vs. Portland 94
  • Nov 19, 2019 - New Orleans 115 vs. Portland 104
  • Mar 15, 2019 - Portland 122 vs. New Orleans 110
  • Jan 18, 2019 - Portland 128 vs. New Orleans 112
  • Nov 01, 2018 - Portland 132 vs. New Orleans 119
  • Apr 21, 2018 - New Orleans 131 vs. Portland 123
  • Apr 19, 2018 - New Orleans 119 vs. Portland 102
  • Apr 17, 2018 - New Orleans 111 vs. Portland 102
  • Apr 14, 2018 - New Orleans 97 vs. Portland 95
  • Mar 27, 2018 - Portland 107 vs. New Orleans 103
  • Jan 12, 2018 - New Orleans 119 vs. Portland 113
  • Dec 02, 2017 - New Orleans 123 vs. Portland 116
  • Oct 24, 2017 - Portland 103 vs. New Orleans 93
  • Apr 12, 2017 - New Orleans 103 vs. Portland 100
  • Mar 14, 2017 - New Orleans 100 vs. Portland 77
  • Nov 25, 2016 - Portland 119 vs. New Orleans 104
  • Nov 18, 2016 - New Orleans 113 vs. Portland 101
  • Mar 18, 2016 - Portland 117 vs. New Orleans 112
  • Dec 23, 2015 - New Orleans 115 vs. Portland 89
  • Dec 14, 2015 - Portland 105 vs. New Orleans 101
  • Oct 28, 2015 - Portland 112 vs. New Orleans 94

Injury Report for Portland

  • Jusuf Nurkic: Out (Wrist)
  • Zach Collins: Out (Ankle)

Injury Report for New Orleans

  • JJ Redick: Out (Heel)