The Portland Trail Blazers (14-20) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (8-27) in a Western Conference matchup that could see the Blazers capitalize on the Pelicans’ ongoing struggles, despite both teams dealing with injuries.
Portland enters after a 124-95 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 31, while New Orleans suffered a 134-118 defeat to the Chicago Bulls, extending their woes in a season marked by poor defense and inconsistent play.
Venue Location
The game will be held at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. This 16,867-capacity arena, home to the Pelicans since 2002, features a lively atmosphere but has seen reduced attendance amid the team’s dismal performance this season.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM PT). The game will be broadcast on KUNP, Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network (GCSEN), and Pelicans+, with streaming available via NBA League Pass and radio on Rip City Radio 620 and WWL 870 AM / 105.3 FM.
Injury Report
Injuries continue to plague both squads, with Portland missing key forwards and New Orleans without several starters, potentially leading to a low-scoring affair.
Portland Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant is out (left ankle sprain). Jrue Holiday is nearing a return but questionable (right calf strain). Scoot Henderson is out (hamstring). Matisse Thybulle is out (thumb). Damian Lillard is out (Achilles). These absences thin Portland’s perimeter defense and scoring options, forcing reliance on younger players like Toumani Camara.
New Orleans Pelicans: Saddiq Bey is questionable (right hip soreness). Hunter Dickinson is out (right foot fracture). Dejounte Murray is out (Achilles, expected back January 13). Herbert Jones is out (ankle). These losses severely impact New Orleans’ backcourt and wing defense, leaving Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to shoulder more load.
Player Matchups
With injuries altering lineups, Portland’s size could challenge New Orleans’ depleted roster. Key battles include:
Anfernee Simons (POR) vs. CJ McCollum (NOP): Simons’ scoring (20+ PPG) faces McCollum’s experience (18 PPG, efficient shooting). Without Murray, McCollum may handle more playmaking, but Simons’ quickness could create mismatches.
Toumani Camara (POR) vs. Brandon Ingram (NOP): Stepping up for Grant, Camara’s defense tests Ingram’s scoring (22 PPG). Ingram’s length might force turnovers, but Camara could limit drives.
Shaedon Sharpe (POR) vs. Trey Murphy III (NOP): Sharpe’s athleticism clashes with Murphy’s three-point threat (15 PPG, 40% from deep). This wing matchup could influence perimeter scoring.
Deandre Ayton (POR) vs. Zion Williamson (NOP): Ayton’s rebounding (double-double potential) meets Williamson’s dominance (25 PPG, explosive drives). Without Jones, Zion may feast inside, but Ayton’s size could contest at the rim.
Portland holds slight edges in depth, but New Orleans’ stars could exploit gaps.
Recent Team Forms
The Trail Blazers have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, averaging 112 PPG while allowing 116, with losses highlighting perimeter vulnerabilities but wins showing resilience on the road. Key results include a 139-119 victory over Golden State on October 24 and the recent blowout loss to OKC.
The Pelicans are 5-5 in their last 10, scoring 115 PPG but conceding 122, reflecting defensive lapses amid injuries. Highlights include a 130-125 loss to the Knicks and the recent defeat to Chicago, with Zion’s play providing sporadic boosts.
| Team | Last 10 Games | Win Streak | PPG Scored | PPG Allowed | Key Trend |
| Trail Blazers | 4-6 | L1 | 112.0 | 116.5 | 3-2 in last 5 road games statmuse.com |
| Pelicans | 5-5 | L1 | 115.3 | 122.0 | 2-3 in last 5 home games statmuse.com |
Series History
Portland leads the all-time series 41-40 in 81 regular-season games.
In the last 10 meetings, the Trail Blazers hold a 7-3 edge, with games often high-scoring.
This season, Portland is 2-0 against New Orleans, including a 125-103 home win on October 27, 2025, and a 105-103 victory on October 25, 2025.
The Pelicans are 4-6 in their last 10 home games vs. Portland. The teams meet again later in the season.
Betting Trends
Trail Blazers Trends: Portland is 14-20 ATS overall and 7-10 ATS on the road. They’ve covered in 1 of their last 5 but are 6-4 ATS as favorites of 0.5-4.5 points. The over has hit in 5 of 10 games.
Pelicans Trends: New Orleans is 9-25 ATS overall and 4-12 ATS at home. They’ve failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 and are 3-7 ATS as underdogs. The over has cashed in 7 of 10 recent games.
Series Trends: In the last 10 matchups, the over has hit 6 times, averaging 228 points. The road team is 6-4 ATS.
Game Odds
Portland Trail Blazers – 1.5
New Orleans Pelicans 244.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, January 1, 2026
