NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (46-32) AT PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (21-57)
Overview
With four games remaining for New Orleans and Phoenix (46-32), the clubs are locked in a flat-footed tie for the sixth-best record in the Western Conference, but the Suns hold the official edge due to having won the season series 2-1. That race for the West’s final automatic playoff berth should make the Pelicans big fans of the LA Clippers over the next 48 hours, who have consecutive games vs. Phoenix on the docket. However, New Orleans needs to handle its own business Tuesday in Oregon against a Portland squad that’s looking to the future. The Trail Blazers listed six players as out on Monday’s injury report (see below), leaving it up to a mostly unfamiliar cast of youngsters to try to spring an upset in Moda Center.
Players to Watch
PELICANS
Zion Williamson
The increasingly-dynamic southpaw power forward has scored at least 25 points in six of his last seven appearances, a stretch that was punctuated Sunday by a 29-point, 10-rebound, seven-assist, five-block eruption at Phoenix. Williamson has only faced Portland once this season, rolling to 26 points and 10 rebounds in a March 16 victory.
CJ McCollum
The 11-year NBA veteran has tallied 30-plus points in three consecutive games, the first time he’s done that with New Orleans since his fourth through sixth career games as a Pelican, following a February 2022 trade from Portland. The former Trail Blazer also deposited exactly 30 points vs. Portland in the March 16 triumph.
Trey Murphy
Something about the Blazers has brought out the best in Murphy, whose career high (set in March of last season) is 41 points vs. Portland, highlighted by 9/14 three-point shooting. The third-year forward has averaged 22.0 points in the two wins over the Blazers this season, shooting 9/16 from beyond the arc.
TRAIL BLAZERS
Deandre Ayton
The former No. 1 overall pick of Phoenix and a Suns starter on the 2022 team that ousted New Orleans from the playoffs, Ayton leads the Blazers in scoring (20.1 ppg) and rebounding (11.7 rpg) over their last 10 games, though he’s only appeared in six of those contests.
Scoot Henderson
The No. 3 overall pick from the 2023 draft, Henderson has been making notable strides since the All-Star break, including averaging 17.3 points and 8.5 assists over four games this month. The rookie’s best three-point month had been just 35.3 percent in December, but he’s 10/23 (43.5 percent) on April treys.
Previous Game Starting Lineups
NEW ORLEANS (46-32, 7TH IN WEST)
Sunday win at Phoenix
CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: Naji Marshall (shoulder) is doubtful. Brandon Ingram (knee) is out. … The Pelicans can guarantee they finish no lower than seventh by going at least 3-1 in their remaining four games. … The most important games on Tuesday’s scoreboard feature sixth-place Phoenix hosting the LA Clippers, while eighth-place Sacramento visits Oklahoma City. … New Orleans is 25-14 on the road, second-best record in the West in away games (Minnesota 26-14).
PORTLAND (21-57, 14TH IN WEST)
Sunday loss at Boston
Scoot Henderson, Rayan Rupert, Kris Murray, Jabari Walker, Deandre Ayton
Notes: Listed in order of their scoring average in 2023-24, Portland has six players deemed out on its injury report, including Anfernee Simons (knee), Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal), Malcolm Brogdon (elbow), Toumani Camara (rib), Robert Williams III (knee) and Matisse Thybulle (ankle). Jerami Grant (hamstring) is doubtful. Ibou Badji (back) is questionable. … Due to the rampant injuries, rookies Murray and Rupert have made 25 and eight starts, respectively.
FanDuel Keys to the Game
FINISH DEFENSIVE POSSESSIONS
Portland’s biggest teamwide strength might be its offensive rebounding, ranked third in the NBA at 12.4 per game. New Orleans is the NBA’s 12th-best defensive rebounding club. The Blazers averaged 10.5 offensive boards in their pair of losses to the Pelicans, but still managed just 95.5 ppg.
FORCE THEIR MISTAKES
A major offensive concern for Portland in two head-to-head meetings with the Crescent City has been turnovers, averaging 19.0 against the swarming Pelicans. New Orleans ranks third in the NBA in steals average (8.3).
MATCHUP TO WATCH
McCollum has a few positive streaks going against Portland, where he played the first 8.5 seasons of his pro career. The Pelicans are 5-0 vs. the Blazers since March 2023 and have only lost once to Portland since the McCollum trade two-plus years ago. McCollum is also 4-0 as a visiting player at Moda Center, though he struggled individually in the Feb. 10 game there (eight points, 2/14 shooting).