The Portland Trail Blazers (5‑5) head into Wednesday’s contest against the New Orleans Pelicans (2‑8) with an opportunity to get above the .500 mark. The Blazers have struggled of late while dealing with several key absences. But they will try to exploit the weaknesses of a Pelicans squad beset by injuries and struggling to find consistency. You can find my breakdown of this contest below, including my Trail Blazers vs Pelicans prediction before tip-off.
Our Trail Blazers vs Pelicans Pick
Pick: Pelicans +8.5
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Portland Trail Blazers @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Date & Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
Injuries will be a factor for both teams in this game, but their impact is bigger for New Orleans. The Pelicans will be missing several starters with Zion Williamson (hamstring), Dejounte Murray (leg), and Jordan Poole (knee) all out. Portland is without Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), Blake Wesley (foot), and Damian Lillard (Achilles).
Portland is scoring 120.6 points per game (8th in the league) while allowing 119.3 points per game (22nd). They rank 19th in rebounds and struggle defensively, but they are generating more offense than most of their opponents. New Orleans is averaging just 108.0 points per game and surrendering 121.3 points per game, registering a ‑13.3 scoring differential.
The Pelicans are searching for rhythm and consistency without the two players they were expecting to carry the scoring load for them. Granted, expecting Zion Williamson to be on the floor might be foolish given how his pro career has gone so far. In any case, this is a golden chance for Portland to stop the bleeding against a Pelicans team that has clearly seen better days.
Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends
- The Pelicans and Trail Blazers are facing off for the first time this season.
- Portland is 6-4 against the spread heading into this game.
- The Pelicans are 4-5-1 against the spread for the season.
- New Orleans is 5-5 in the over/under market through 10 games.
- The Trail Blazers have gone over the total 7 times in 10 games.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Jrue Holiday (POR) | Over 7.5 assists |
| Deni Avdija (POR) | Under 24.5 points |
| Trey Murphy III (NOP) | Over 21.5 points |
Trail Blazers vs Pelicans Model Projection
Score Projection: Portland 122 – New Orleans 117
Win Probability: Portland 73%, New Orleans 27%
Final Thoughts
The Trail Blazers should get a win in this game to improve to 6-5 on the season. But I think that the Pelicans will cover the spread as an underdog at home. New Orleans hasn’t been terrible against the spread this season despite all of their roster limitations. I expect them to hang around in this game against an inconsistent Portland team.
