Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers prediction: Why Portland is favored to win Thursday's NBA game [4/2/2026]

The Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to meet in NBA action at Moda Center on Thursday, starting at 10:00 PM ET.

Based on updated simulations and today’s injury reports, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Trail Blazers as the most likely winner of the Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Trail Blazers lineup will feature stars like Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, while the Pelicans will be led by Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Pelicans vs. Blazers prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NBA matchup between the Pelicans and Trail Blazers, forming part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model currently gives the Trail Blazers a 67% chance of beating the Pelicans. Our predicted final score has the Trail Blazers winning 118-113.

According to our model, the Pelicans (+6) have a 54% chance of covering the spread, while the 234.5-point over/under has a 53% chance of staying under.

Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers odds

We have sourced the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Pelicans	Trail Blazers
Spread	+6 (-112)	-6 (-108)
Moneyline	+200	-225
Total	o234.5 (-110)	u234.5 (-105)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers 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	Pelicans +6	-112
Moneyline	Pelicans	+200
Total	Under 234.5	-105

According to our best NBA bets for Thursday, the top play to make on this game is Under 234.5 total points.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers player props

Betting on Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers NBA prop bets? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Moda Center.

Trey Murphy is expected to lead the Pelicans with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Deni Avdija is projected to have 27 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists for the Trail Blazers.

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.

Pelicans prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Pelicans are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Trey Murphy	24	5	4	4	46
Zion Williamson	21	5	3	0	37
Saddiq Bey	18	5	3	2	34
Dejounte Murray	17	5	6	1	38
Jeremiah Fears	11	3	3	1	24

Trail Blazers prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Trail Blazers:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Deni Avdija	27	7	8	2	53
Jrue Holiday	18	4	6	3	38
Scoot Henderson	16	3	5	2	32
Donovan Clingan	14	13	2	1	40
Toumani Camara	14	5	3	3	29

Pelicans vs. Blazers game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's matchup between the Trail Blazers and Pelicans at Moda Center is scheduled to commence at 10:00 PM ET.

• Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers
• Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
• Time: 10:00 PM ET/7:00PM PT
• Venue: Moda Center

Conclusion

We predict the Trail Blazers, with a 67% win probability, will likely beat the Pelicans on Thursday, with Deni Avdija projected for a game-high 53 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice, head to our responsible gambling hub.

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