The New Orleans Pelicans face the Portland Trail Blazers on April 2, 2026, in an important NBA regular-season matchup at Moda Center in Portland. This game carries very different motivations for both teams. Portland is fighting hard to secure a strong position in the Western Conference play-in race, while the Pelicans are struggling near the bottom of the standings and looking to finish the season with some positives. The Trail Blazers enter the game with strong momentum after several impressive performances in recent weeks, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Meanwhile, New Orleans has been dealing with inconsistent form and multiple injuries that have affected their lineup stability.

Portland has dominated the recent head-to-head meetings between these teams, winning most of the recent encounters and often doing so comfortably. Their defense has improved significantly in the past few weeks, allowing fewer points and controlling the tempo of games. The Pelicans, however, have been on a losing streak and have struggled defensively, conceding high scores in several recent games. With both teams coming into this contest in very different form, the matchup could favor the home side once again, especially considering the Trail Blazers’ strong performances at Moda Center.

Match Information

MatchNew Orleans Pelicans vs Portland Trail BlazersLeagueNBA Regular Season 2026DateApril 2, 2026Tip-off10:00 PM ETVenueModa Center, PortlandBroadcastPelicans+ / BlazerVision / NBA League Pass

Team Records

TeamRecordPortland Trail Blazers39–38New Orleans Pelicans25–51

Portland is still fighting for a play-in position in the Western Conference, while New Orleans has already fallen far behind in the standings this season.

Recent Form

TeamLast 5 GamesPortland Trail BlazersW-W-L-W-WNew Orleans PelicansL-L-L-L-L

Portland recently defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 114-104 and has won seven of its last nine games. The Pelicans have lost five consecutive games and are struggling on both ends of the floor.

Head-to-Head Record

CategoryResultTotal meetings55Pelicans wins28Trail Blazers wins27Last meetingTrail Blazers won 122-109

Although the all-time record is close, Portland has controlled most of the recent matchups between these teams.

Injury Report

Portland Trail Blazers

PlayerStatusJerami GrantOutShaedon SharpeOutVit KrejciOut

Even with these absences, Portland continues to play strong team basketball.

New Orleans Pelicans

PlayerStatusBryce McGowensOutTrey Murphy Jr.DoubtfulKarlo MatkovicQuestionable

The Pelicans are dealing with several injury concerns, including key scorer Trey Murphy Jr., which could further impact their offense.

Key Player Stats

PlayerTeamKey PerformanceScoot HendersonTrail BlazersStrong three-point shooting recentlyJrue HolidayTrail BlazersComing off a 30-point gameDeni AvdijaTrail Blazers28 points in recent winDejounte MurrayPelicansKey scorer with 19 points in last game

Portland has multiple players contributing offensively, while the Pelicans rely heavily on a smaller group of scorers.

Team Performance Comparison

StatisticPelicansTrail BlazersPoints per Game112.3115.8Points Allowed115.1104.5Three-Point %34.7%34%Recent Defensive FormWeakStrong

Portland’s defense has been one of the biggest reasons behind its recent winning streak, while New Orleans has struggled to stop opponents.

Also Read: Collin Gillespie Sets Phoenix Suns Single-Season 3-Point Record With Historic Shot vs Hornets

Projected Starting Lineups

PelicansTrail BlazersDejounte MurrayScoot HendersonTrey Murphy Jr.Deni AvdijaSaddiq BeyToumani KamaraZion WilliamsonDonovan ClinganHerbert JonesJrue Holiday

These lineups may change depending on final injury updates before tip-off.

Betting Odds

MarketPelicansTrail BlazersSpread+6.5-6.5Moneyline+205 / +215-250 / -265Total Points232.5 – 233.5232.5 – 233.5

Portland enters the matchup as the clear favorite due to its stronger recent form and home-court advantage.

Best Betting Picks

Pick TypePredictionSpreadTrail Blazers -6.5Total PointsOver 233.5Player PropScoot Henderson Over 1.5 Three-PointersPlayer PropDerik Queen Over 8.5 Points

Scoot Henderson has been effective from long range recently, while Derik Queen has shown consistent scoring ability against Portland.

Key Match Factors

Portland’s defense has been one of the strongest in the league over the past few weeks. The Trail Blazers have limited opponents to around 104 points during their recent run, which is a major improvement compared to earlier in the season. Their balanced scoring and defensive intensity make them difficult to beat at home.

The Pelicans, on the other hand, are struggling defensively and have allowed over 120 points in several recent losses. Injuries and inconsistent performances have also affected their offense, making it harder to compete with teams that are playing with playoff urgency.

Another factor is motivation. Portland still has a clear objective of securing a play-in spot, while New Orleans appears to be playing out the final games of a difficult season.

Match Prediction

Portland enters the matchup with better form, stronger defense, and the advantage of playing at home. The Pelicans have been struggling recently and may again face difficulties keeping up with the Blazers’ offensive rhythm.

Predicted WinnerPortland Trail BlazersPredicted ScoreTrail Blazers 120 – Pelicans 111