Welcome to my latest, “Best NBA Picks Against the Spread” column, we have some great games to look at today. This article will include Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets at Portland Trailblazers. Be sure to check the injury report and other relevant information close to game time as these picks may change with new information! All stats are pulled from thescore.com
Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are currently underperforming and are not meeting preseason expectations. They are currently 18-24 overall and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. It looks like point guard Lonzo Ball may be headed elsewhere as trade talks swirl around the league with the Clippers and Nuggets being floated.
The Pelicans will get a lucky matchup that features a Lakers team without James and Davis. The Lakers have been tattered with injuries as late and they are being extra careful with Davis to make sure he’s good to go for the playoffs. For the Pelicans, they will be missing JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball is listed as a game-time decision.
This is one of those games that can cause paralysis by overanalysis. With the Lakers missing 3 out of their 5 starters. They will need to see guys like Schroder and Harrell over-perform but unlikely that they can keel up in scoring with Ingram and Williamson who are averaging 23.9 PPG, 4.7 APG, 5.1 RPG, and 25.7 PPG, 3.4 APG, and 7.0 RPG, respectively.
The Pelicans are the -6.0 favorite at home. A spread that they should be able to cover as the talent advantage swings to the Pelicans as they make a late-season push to the playoffs.
Brooklyn Nets at Portland TrailBlazers
The Trailblazers are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the Western Conference as they go on a 7-3 run in their last 10 games to improve their record to 25-17 which is good enough for the sixth seed.
McCollum has returned from injury and has been a huge difference-maker that frees up the rest of the team to make plays. Through 17 games this season, McCollum is averaging 24.3 PPG, 4.4 APG, and 3.7 RPG. A player that Portland is glad to have back coupled with All-Star PG Lillard who is averaging an astonishing 30.3 PPG, 7.6 APG, and 4.4 RPG and has put the team on his back through McCollum’s absence to keep them relevant.
Portland is a top team in the league when healthy and they will be without Nurkic and Collins. For the Nets, they are riddled with injuries that will have severe consequences, especially to their defense. 2 of their big 3 will sit which includes Durant and Irving. Durant has been injured for some time as they want to make sure he’s ready for the playoffs. Shamet is also out and Harden is listed as a game-time decision.
The Nets could be in some serious trouble as they tout the best offense in the league and the worst defense in the league. Injuries will cause their top-rated offense to become average but still keep their league-worst defense.
The line isn’t out for this matchup but I can imagine that Portland will be the favorite. Any line of Portland -7.0 or less should be taken.
