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Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans prediction: Portland favored to win Friday's NBA matchup [1/2/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans predictions for NBA Friday.
The New Orleans Pelicans and Portland blazers are scheduled to meet in NBA action at Smoothie King Center on Friday, with tipoff at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Trail Blazers as the most likely winner of the Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans game.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Pelicans lineup will feature players like Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Saddiq Bey, while the Trail Blazers will be led by Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara.
This article offers a closer look at Friday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Blazers vs. Pelicans prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Friday's NBA game between the Trail Blazers and Pelicans 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model gives the Trail Blazers a 55% chance of beating the Pelicans. Our predicted final score has the Trail Blazers winning 122-120.
According to our model, the Trail Blazers (-1.5) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 244.5 points has a 55% chance of staying under.
Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Trail Blazers | Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -1.5 (-102) | +1.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -112 | +100 |
| Total | o244.5 (-112) | u244.5 (-105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Trail Blazers -1.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Trail Blazers | -112 |
| Total | Under 244.5 | -105 |
According to our NBA best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 244.5 total points.
Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans player props
NBA prop bets are a great way to wager on Friday's Portland vs. New Orleans matchup without necessarily betting on the outcome. We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Smoothie King Center.
Deni Avdija is expected to lead the Trail Blazers with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while Zion Williamson is projected to have 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the Pelicans.
Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.
Trail Blazers prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Trail Blazers are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deni Avdija | 29 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 58 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 24 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 41 |
| Toumani Camara | 14 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 31 |
| Donovan Clingan | 12 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 35 |
| Caleb Love | 11 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 22 |
Pelicans prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Pelicans:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion Williamson | 25 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 45 |
| Trey Murphy | 22 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 43 |
| Saddiq Bey | 17 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 33 |
| Jordan Poole | 17 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 31 |
| Derik Queen | 14 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 36 |
Blazers vs. Pelicans game-day updates and essential details
Friday's game between the Pelicans and Trail Blazers at Smoothie King Center is scheduled to commence at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Date: Friday, January 2, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Smoothie King Center
Conclusion
We predict the Trail Blazers, with a 55% win probability, will likely beat the Pelicans on Friday, with Deni Avdija projected for a game-high 58 fantasy points.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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