Overview
- Tipoff is 5 p.m. local at Smoothie King Center, with Portland entering 14-20 and New Orleans 8-27.
- Oregon Lottery/DraftKings list Portland as a slight favorite at -2.5 on the spread and -135 on the moneyline, with a 241.5 total.
- Portland lists Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley as out.
- New Orleans rules out Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Derik Queen, Saddiq Bey and, by game time, Trey Murphy III.
- Zion Williamson is active and on a strong run, highlighted by 26.3 points per game over his last seven, while Portland’s league-worst turnover rate faces a Pelicans group that ranks high in steals.