Portland Trail Blazers vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 01/02/26

The New Orleans Pelicans enter this matchup significantly shorthanded, with Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen both ruled out, further thinning a roster that has already struggled with consistency on both ends of the floor. Those absences hurt New Orleans’ spacing, secondary scoring and rebounding, making it harder to sustain offense for 4 quarters. Defensively, the Pelicans have been vulnerable all season, frequently allowing opponents to score efficiently in transition and the half court. With fewer reliable scoring options available, New Orleans is likely to experience extended offensive droughts — especially against teams that can control the glass and tempo.

Portland has been far from reliable when laying points, going 3-9 ATS as favorites, but this shapes up as a potential buy-low spot. The Trail Blazers have shown improved offensive balance recently, with better production from their young core and more consistent interior play anchoring their half-court offense. Portland’s ability to rebound and generate second-chance points is a key edge against an undermanned Pelicans frontcourt, and its depth advantage becomes more meaningful given New Orleans’ injuries. While Portland isn’t a team to blindly trust in the favorite role, this matchup is situationally different. The Pelicans lack the personnel to exploit the Blazers’ usual weaknesses.

Trail Blazers vs Pelicans prediction: Portland -2.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -3.

You can bet on our Trail Blazers vs Pelicans pick with BetMGM, where right now new users can activate your new BetMGM account ⚡ and receive $150 in bonus bets INSTANTLY if your first $10+ wager is a winner!