Game 3 is a must-win for the Trail Blazers. NBA teams are 19-273 all-time after trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven series.
The New Orleans Pelicans did the unthinkable, stealing a pair of road wins to open their first-round series with Portland. But there are still two goals left for the Pelicans: Avenge a home loss to the Trail Blazers late in the regular season, and make good on their -526 odds for a series victory. The Pelicans can accomplish the former – and take a major step toward the latter – with a win Thursday night in Game 3 at Smoothie King Arena.
NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 18 Apr 2:34pm | POR | -3 -110 | O +216 -110 |
| Closing 19 Apr 6:49pm | POR | -3.5 -110 | O +215.5 -110 |
New Orleans comes in as a narrow favorite after going into Moda Center and shocking the Portland faithful. And with good reason: The Pelicans have not only won seven straight games dating to the end of the regular season, they’ve also covered the spread in all seven. New Orleans is a red-hot 20-6 ATS in their last 26 after a successful cover in their previous game. Portland comes in having covered just once in its previous five games.
The total for Game 3 is a sky-high 216, and trends for both teams suggest that under is the better option here. Portland has gone below the number in six consecutive games vs. teams with winning records and is 1-6 O/U in its previous seven following a straight-up loss. New Orleans has gone under nine times with one push in its past 12 vs. teams above .500, and is 0-4 O/U in its last four against Northwest Division opponents.
Portland Trail Blazers
The road team has covered in four of the last five meetings between the Western Conference rivals – but for the Blazers to extend that trend, they’ll need much better guard play than they had in Portland. The starting backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. Mccollum is shooting a dismal 38.8 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range against the defensive pressure of Pelicans counterparts Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday.
New Orleans Pelicans
Those who bet on the Pelicans to complete the first-round upset have to be feeling confident – and their stunning success in the first two games has put a potential sweep into play. If you’re feeling brave, you can take the Pelicans to take care of the Trail Blazers in four straight games for a tidy +161 – the best odds of any outcome in the series. You’ll get +501 for a five-game series triumph, +276 for a six-game win and +1,100 for New Orleans to win in seven.
Injuries
Maurice Harkless (SF)
Jusuf Nurkic (C)
Evan Turner (SF)
Ed Davis (PF)
Shabazz Napier (PG)
Noah Vonleh (PF)
Zach Collins (C)
Meyers Leonard (C)
Damian Lillard (PG)
Al-Farouq Aminu (SF)
Nikola Mirotic (PF)
Ian Clark (SG)
Rajon Rondo (PG)
Jrue Holiday (PG)
Solomon Hill (SF)
Cheick Diallo (PF)
Emeka Okafor (C)
Darius Miller (SF)
Dante Cunningham (PF)
Omer Asik (C)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maurice Harkless (SF) | Out Sat | Knee - 20 / 04 / 18 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Harkless is dealing with a a sore left knee and will not be available against the Pelicans in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round. |
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| Jusuf Nurkic (C) | Prob Thurs | Leg - 18 / 04 / 18 | 0-3 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Nurkic exited the previous game due to a left leg contusion but is expected to partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Pelicans. |
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| Evan Turner (SF) | Prob Sat | Toe - 18 / 04 / 18 | 0-3 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Turner is battling a right toe contusion but is expected to play against the Pelicans in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round. |
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| Ed Davis (PF) | Prob Mon | Ankle - 31 / 03 / 18 | 3-8 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Davis is dealing with a sprained right ankle but is likely to return Monday against the Nuggets. |
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| Shabazz Napier (PG) | Prob Sun | Toe - 24 / 03 / 18 | 6-9 | 7-8 | + - |
|
Napier is dealing with a toe injury but is likely available for Sunday's matchup against the Thunder. |
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| Noah Vonleh (PF) | Prob Sat | Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18 | 20-12 | 14-18 | + - |
|
Vonleh has been acquired via a trade and is expected to pass his physical in time to play in Saturday's game against the Wizards. |
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| Zach Collins (C) | Prob Mon | Teeth - 05 / 02 / 18 | 20-13 | 14-19 | + - |
|
Collins is likely to suit up against the Pistons on Monday despite a dental procedure to reset his lower teeth. |
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| Meyers Leonard (C) | Prob Fri | Back - 31 / 01 / 18 | 23-14 | 16-21 | + - |
|
Leonard was absent from the lineup during the last game with soreness in his back but is expected to draw back into the lineup against the Raptors on Friday. |
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| Damian Lillard (PG) | Prob Fri | Calf - 11 / 01 / 18 | 27-18 | 23-23 | + - |
|
Lillard is expected to be on the court Friday against the Pelicans after recovering from a strained right calf. |
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| Al-Farouq Aminu (SF) | Prob Thurs | Ankle - 02 / 11 / 17 | 42-33 | 34-45 | + - |
|
Aminu sprained his right ankle but is expected to return Thursday against the Bucks. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Mirotic (PF) | Prob Thurs | Ankle - 18 / 04 / 18 | 6-2 | 4-4 | + - |
|
Mirotic is dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Trail Blazers. |
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| Ian Clark (SG) | Ques Wed | Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18 | 8-2 | 5-5 | + - |
|
lark is dealing with an ankle injury and it is unknown if he will be available for Wednesday's game against the Spurs. |
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| Rajon Rondo (PG) | Ques Fri | Wrist - 24 / 03 / 18 | 12-6 | 9-9 | + - |
|
Rondo missed his second-straight game due to a right wrist sprain and it is unknown if he will suit up Friday against the Cavaliers. |
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| Jrue Holiday (PG) | Prob Thurs | Illness - 22 / 03 / 18 | 13-6 | 9-10 | + - |
|
Holiday is expected to take part in Thursday's game against the Lakers despite dealing with an illness. |
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| Solomon Hill (SF) | Out Wed | Rest - 21 / 03 / 18 | 14-6 | 10-10 | + - |
|
Hill will be absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Pacers as his team will be playing three games in three nights. |
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| Cheick Diallo (PF) | day-to-day | Knee - 07 / 03 / 18 | 19-10 | 14-15 | + - |
|
Diallo exited Wednesday's game due to a knee injury and it is unclear if he will return. |
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| Emeka Okafor (C) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 03 / 03 / 18 | 20-10 | 15-15 | + - |
|
Okafor sat out the last game due to a sprained right ankle but is likely to be available for Tuesday's matchup against the Clippers. |
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| Darius Miller (SF) | day-to-day | Eye - 12 / 02 / 18 | 25-11 | 20-16 | + - |
|
Miller exited Monday's game due to a laceration under his eye and it is uncertain if he will return. |
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| Dante Cunningham (PF) | Prob Sat | Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18 | 25-12 | 20-17 | + - |
|
Cunningham has joined the team via a trade and is expected to be available Saturday against the Pelicans. |
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| Omer Asik (C) | Ques Sat | Acquired - 03 / 02 / 18 | 26-15 | 23-18 | + - |
|
Asik is uncertain to play Saturday against the Wizards as he is required to pass a physical before playing with his new team. |
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Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans Game 3 Prediction
-
TRAIL BLAZERS
100 -
PELICANS
104
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 18 Apr 2:34pm POR -3 -110 O +216 -110 Closing 19 Apr 6:49pm POR -3.5 -110 O +215.5 -110 -
Injuries
Maurice Harkless (SF)
Out Sat Knee - 20 / 04 / 18Jusuf Nurkic (C)
Prob Thurs Leg - 18 / 04 / 18Evan Turner (SF)
Prob Sat Toe - 18 / 04 / 18Ed Davis (PF)
Prob Mon Ankle - 31 / 03 / 18Shabazz Napier (PG)
Prob Sun Toe - 24 / 03 / 18Noah Vonleh (PF)
Prob Sat Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18Zach Collins (C)
Prob Mon Teeth - 05 / 02 / 18Meyers Leonard (C)
Prob Fri Back - 31 / 01 / 18Damian Lillard (PG)
Prob Fri Calf - 11 / 01 / 18Al-Farouq Aminu (SF)
Prob Thurs Ankle - 02 / 11 / 17Nikola Mirotic (PF)
Prob Thurs Ankle - 18 / 04 / 18Ian Clark (SG)
Ques Wed Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18Rajon Rondo (PG)
Ques Fri Wrist - 24 / 03 / 18Jrue Holiday (PG)
Prob Thurs Illness - 22 / 03 / 18Solomon Hill (SF)
Out Wed Rest - 21 / 03 / 18Cheick Diallo (PF)
day-to-day Knee - 07 / 03 / 18Emeka Okafor (C)
Prob Tues Ankle - 03 / 03 / 18Darius Miller (SF)
day-to-day Eye - 12 / 02 / 18Dante Cunningham (PF)
Prob Sat Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18Omer Asik (C)
Ques Sat Acquired - 03 / 02 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Maurice Harkless (SF) Out Sat Knee - 20 / 04 / 18 0-2 1-1 + - Harkless is dealing with a a sore left knee and will not be available against the Pelicans in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
Jusuf Nurkic (C) Prob Thurs Leg - 18 / 04 / 18 0-3 1-2 + - Nurkic exited the previous game due to a left leg contusion but is expected to partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Pelicans.
Evan Turner (SF) Prob Sat Toe - 18 / 04 / 18 0-3 1-2 + - Turner is battling a right toe contusion but is expected to play against the Pelicans in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
Ed Davis (PF) Prob Mon Ankle - 31 / 03 / 18 3-8 5-6 + - Davis is dealing with a sprained right ankle but is likely to return Monday against the Nuggets.
Shabazz Napier (PG) Prob Sun Toe - 24 / 03 / 18 6-9 7-8 + - Napier is dealing with a toe injury but is likely available for Sunday's matchup against the Thunder.
Noah Vonleh (PF) Prob Sat Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18 20-12 14-18 + - Vonleh has been acquired via a trade and is expected to pass his physical in time to play in Saturday's game against the Wizards.
Zach Collins (C) Prob Mon Teeth - 05 / 02 / 18 20-13 14-19 + - Collins is likely to suit up against the Pistons on Monday despite a dental procedure to reset his lower teeth.
Meyers Leonard (C) Prob Fri Back - 31 / 01 / 18 23-14 16-21 + - Leonard was absent from the lineup during the last game with soreness in his back but is expected to draw back into the lineup against the Raptors on Friday.
Damian Lillard (PG) Prob Fri Calf - 11 / 01 / 18 27-18 23-23 + - Lillard is expected to be on the court Friday against the Pelicans after recovering from a strained right calf.
Al-Farouq Aminu (SF) Prob Thurs Ankle - 02 / 11 / 17 42-33 34-45 + - Aminu sprained his right ankle but is expected to return Thursday against the Bucks.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Nikola Mirotic (PF) Prob Thurs Ankle - 18 / 04 / 18 6-2 4-4 + - Mirotic is dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Trail Blazers.
Ian Clark (SG) Ques Wed Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18 8-2 5-5 + - lark is dealing with an ankle injury and it is unknown if he will be available for Wednesday's game against the Spurs.
Rajon Rondo (PG) Ques Fri Wrist - 24 / 03 / 18 12-6 9-9 + - Rondo missed his second-straight game due to a right wrist sprain and it is unknown if he will suit up Friday against the Cavaliers.
Jrue Holiday (PG) Prob Thurs Illness - 22 / 03 / 18 13-6 9-10 + - Holiday is expected to take part in Thursday's game against the Lakers despite dealing with an illness.
Solomon Hill (SF) Out Wed Rest - 21 / 03 / 18 14-6 10-10 + - Hill will be absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Pacers as his team will be playing three games in three nights.
Cheick Diallo (PF) day-to-day Knee - 07 / 03 / 18 19-10 14-15 + - Diallo exited Wednesday's game due to a knee injury and it is unclear if he will return.
Emeka Okafor (C) Prob Tues Ankle - 03 / 03 / 18 20-10 15-15 + - Okafor sat out the last game due to a sprained right ankle but is likely to be available for Tuesday's matchup against the Clippers.
Darius Miller (SF) day-to-day Eye - 12 / 02 / 18 25-11 20-16 + - Miller exited Monday's game due to a laceration under his eye and it is uncertain if he will return.
Dante Cunningham (PF) Prob Sat Acquired - 09 / 02 / 18 25-12 20-17 + - Cunningham has joined the team via a trade and is expected to be available Saturday against the Pelicans.
Omer Asik (C) Ques Sat Acquired - 03 / 02 / 18 26-15 23-18 + - Asik is uncertain to play Saturday against the Wizards as he is required to pass a physical before playing with his new team.