A look at three key numbers related to Saturday’s game in the Smoothie King Center between Portland and New Orleans (6 p.m. Central, Bally Sports, WRNO 99.5 FM):
67: Zion Williamson total points in games this week vs. Cleveland and the LA Clippers, the first time during the 2023-24 regular season that he’s registered consecutive outings of 30-plus points (his most recent previous instance was December 2022, when he had 43- and 36-point nights vs. Minnesota and Philadelphia). No matter how you sort the Duke product’s numbers lately, it’s clear the two-time All-Star power forward is hitting his stride, averaging 29.3 points over the last four games, while shooting 63 percent from the field. He’s also averaging 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks during that span. Based on the Basketball Reference “game score” metric – which calculates the total impact a player has on a specific game – four of Williamson’s 10 best performances of this season have taken place since March 8, a 3-1 stretch for New Orleans that includes wins over Philadelphia, Atlanta and the Clippers.
14.7: New Orleans average point differential in seven head-to-head games vs. Portland since CJ McCollum joined the Pelicans in a February 2022 trade. McCollum has gone 6-1 against his former NBA franchise in those matchups, including blowout wins by 34 and 33 points (as well as three others by double digits, part of a 103-point aggregate advantage). Not coincidentally given the club’s direction following the trades of McCollum and longtime backcourt partner Damian Lillard, the Trail Blazers have clinched their third consecutive losing season, after they had qualified for the Western Conference playoffs eight consecutive years. Currently in the No. 5 spot in the West standings, the Pelicans are trying to seal a 10th playoff appearance for McCollum in his 11 NBA seasons, with the lone miss coming last spring.
23-12: Speaking of former Trail Blazers – albeit one who was in Portland for a much shorter stint than McCollum – Larry Nance Jr.’s return to the court from injury in late December has been an underrated element of New Orleans’ surge in the standings. New Orleans has gone 23-12 since Nance missed 13 straight November/December games due to injury, compared to just 6-8 in his first 14 appearances of 2023-24. Nance, who tried to play through not being entirely healthy in October/November, used his time off to get back to 100 percent physically. Nance scored 12 points during Friday’s critical victory over the Clippers, including two points, two rebounds and two assists in the fourth quarter, thriving in the dunker spot. Nance and NOLA’s bench helped put away LA by registering 18 of the hosts’ 30 fourth-quarter points.
Previous Game Starting Lineups
PORTLAND (19-47, 14TH IN WEST)
Thursday loss vs. New York
Scoot Henderson, Dalano Banton, Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, Deandre Ayton
Notes: On a lengthy Trail Blazers injury list, Malcolm Brogdon (elbow), Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal) and Robert Williams III (knee) are out. Jerami Grant (hamstring) and Jabari Walker (hip) are doubtful. Matisse Thybulle (ankle) is questionable. Anfernee Simons (knee) and Rayan Rupert (ankle) are probable. … Portland has the NBA’s fifth-worst record, likely headed for an ideal pre-lottery slot at the mid-May event. Charlotte (17-50) is just behind the Blazers in the overall league standings.
NEW ORLEANS (40-26, 5TH IN WEST)
Friday win vs. LA Clippers
CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: The Pelicans will submit their official injury report prior to the league-mandated 1 p.m. local deadline for the second game of all back-to-backs. … The Pelicans moved to within two games of the fourth-place Clippers (42-24) by virtue of Friday’s victory, while clinching the tiebreaker based on the season series (3-1). ... New Orleans has a 1.5-game lead over No. 6 Sacramento (38-27). The Kings host New York at 9 p.m. Saturday in Golden 1 Center. … The Pelicans’ most common starting lineup is 24-14 this season. Along with two other combinations, New Orleans has gone 32-17 (8-9 in all other games).
FanDuel Keys to the Game
SHUTDOWN MENTALITY
In the only previous meeting of the season between New Orleans and Portland on Feb. 10, the Pelicans held the Trail Blazers to a meager 84 points and 6/21 three-point shooting, in a low-scoring road victory. New Orleans will try to repeat that defensive success against a young, rebuilding opponent that’s also missing several key components due to injury.
LIMIT SECOND CHANCES
Portland’s top category of effectiveness may be its offensive rebounding, ranking fourth in that stat at 12.8 per game (only Atlanta, New York and Utah grab more). Meanwhile, New Orleans is 14th in defensive rebounding percentage (72.1). The Blazers won total rebounding by a 42-36 margin in the Feb. 10 contest, with 11 offensive boards.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
At center, Valanciunas (16 points, nine rebounds at Portland on Feb. 10) starts against Ayton, who’s in the midst of one of the best statistical stretches of his career. The former No. 1 overall draft pick from Arizona has averaged 29.0 points and 16.8 rebounds over his last four games, shooting 61 percent from the field.