Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers
When: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 8:00 p.m ET
Where: Smoothie King Center
How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans
No player in the NBA is playing at a higher level in recent weeks than Damian Lillard. Over the last 10 games entering Tuesday, Lillard is averaging 41.5 points, 9.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds all while shooting 51.5% from the field, 51.5% from three-point territory and 91.6% from the line.
That makes Tuesday’s game between the Trail Blazers and Pelicans all the more intriguing. The two sides both have been chasing the Memphis Grizzlies and the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Entering Tuesday, the Blazers are 2.5 games back while the Pelicans are five games back.
The Blazers will have a big say in the playoff race in the coming games. Portland travels to Memphis on Wednesday to end the first half of their regular season before returning back to their home court against New Orleans to open the second half of the season.
Given their current situation, both games enter must-win status for the Pelicans and, particularly Tuesday’s home game. New Orleans has won five of the last seven games, stacking up nearly identically to Portland’s six wins in the last eight games.
Losses to Portland in either of their two upcoming games could prove lethal down the road in the playoff chase. While the Pelicans maintain one of the easiest schedules down the home stretch, being out of the race before then negates any schedule advantages.
All of that makes Tuesday’s game likely the biggest game of the season yet.