Lillard leads Portland into matchup with New Orleans
New Orleans Pelicans (7-23, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (14-16, eighth in the Western Conference)
Portland; Monday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers host the New Orleans Pelicans. Lillard is seventh in the league scoring 26.9 points per game.
The Trail Blazers are 9-11 against Western Conference opponents. Portland has a 13-6 record against opponents under .500.
The Pelicans are 6-14 against Western Conference opponents. New Orleans is 2-13 when opponents grab more rebounds and averages 45 rebounds per game.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pelicans won 115-104 in the last matchup on Nov. 19. Jrue Holiday led New Orleans with 22 points, and CJ McCollum led Portland with 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lillard leads the Trail Blazers with 3.4 made 3-pointers and averages 26.9 points while shooting 36.3 percent from beyond the arc. McCollum has averaged 23.3 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 49.1 percent over the last 10 games for Portland.
Holiday leads the Pelicans averaging 6.5 assists while scoring 19.6 points per game. Lonzo Ball has averaged 4.7 assists and scored 8.9 points over the last 10 games for New Orleans.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 46.7 rebounds, 20.1 assists, 6.5 steals and 8.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.7 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.9 points on 43.6 percent shooting.
Pelicans: 1-9, averaging 106.6 points, 45.6 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 6.3 steals and five blocks per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.8 points on 46.4 percent shooting.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Carmelo Anthony: out (knee), Jusuf Nurkic: out (leg fracture), Mario Hezonja: day to day (back), Zach Collins: out (left shoulder dislocation), Rodney Hood: out for season (leg).
Pelicans: Zion Williamson: out (right knee), Darius Miller: out (achilles).
