Trail Blazers vs Pelicans Picks, Predictions & Odds (July 15 Summer League)

• The Pelicans are 3.5-point favorites over the Trail Blazers in Tuesday’s Summer League matchup at 7:00 PM PT
• Yang Hansen and Derik Queen headline a battle of young centers with Nikola Jokić-like potential
• See below for my Trail Blazers vs Pelicans picks and predictions, plus the updated odds for Tuesday’s Summer League clash

The “Chinese Jokić” meets another center drawing comparisons to the three-time MVP. Yang Hansen has dazzled through two Summer League games with his otherworldly passing, while Derik Queen has posted back-to-back double-doubles for New Orleans.

Both teams sit at different ends of the Summer League spectrum. Portland demolished Golden State 106-73 before falling to Memphis, while the Pelicans have dropped narrow decisions despite Queen’s dominance.

Trail Blazers vs Pelicans Picks

• Trail Blazers +3.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
• Trail Blazers ML (+130 at BetMGM)

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The Pelicans can’t get out of their own way. They committed 25 turnovers in their opener alone and lead the tournament in fouls. That’s a recipe for disaster against a Portland team that leads Summer League in free-throw shooting.

New Orleans has struggled mightily with ball security. Jeremiah Fears, the seventh overall pick, posted an ugly 1-to-5 assist-to-turnover ratio through two games. The team managed just six assists against the Lakers – none in the second half.

Summer League Efficiency Comparison

Portland’s offense flows through multiple creators. Caleb Love has averaged 18.0 points while shooting 43.8% from three. Sidy Cissoko provides secondary scoring with 14.0 points per game. Both have NBA experience and understand how to control tempo.

The Blazers have won Hansen’s minutes by 12 points despite modest box score numbers. His 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists undersell his impact. The rookie center creates easy looks with his passing and has blocked 2.0 shots per game.

Queen has impressive numbers – back-to-back double-doubles, averaging 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds. But he’s fouling at an alarming rate, and New Orleans has been outscored during his minutes. The team’s poor discipline starts at the top.

Antonio Reeves provides New Orleans’ most reliable offense with 15.0 points per game. He dropped 20 against the Lakers, but he can’t carry the scoring load alone. The Pelicans managed just 81 points in that loss despite Reeves’ hot shooting.

Trail Blazers vs Pelicans Predictions

Hansen admitted fatigue affected him during Saturday’s back-to-back. With two days of rest, expect the Chinese center to return to form. His conditioning should improve after adjusting to the NBA schedule.

The Pelicans’ turnover issues aren’t getting fixed overnight. Ball-dominant guards like Fears rarely play winning basketball early in their careers. New Orleans has been outscored by 11 points in his 55 minutes on the floor.

Portland’s experience edge matters here. James Bouknight averaged 13.0 points while fighting for an NBA roster spot. Rayan Rupert and Cissoko both have legitimate NBA minutes under their belts. That’s more proven talent than New Orleans can match beyond Yves Missi.

The free-throw disparity could decide this game. Portland leads Summer League at 89.7% from the line while New Orleans shoots just 64.3%. With the Pelicans’ foul trouble continuing, those extra points add up quickly.

Take the Blazers with the points and sprinkle the moneyline. Portland has already proven they can dominate Summer League competition with their 33-point win over Golden State. New Orleans hasn’t shown that ceiling despite their lottery talent.

Trail Blazers vs Pelicans Odds

The Pelicans opened as favorites despite being winless in Vegas. Sharp money has already moved this line from Portland +4.5 to +3.5, suggesting respect for the Blazers’ chances.

The total sits at 177.5 after both teams struggled offensively in their last outings.

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Odds as of July 15 at BetMGM. Get the BetMGM promo code before signing up.