The Portland Trail Blazers play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at Moda Center on Friday.

The Pelicans (23-32) come into this matchup winning three of their last four games. That's pretty much the team that we've seen over the last month, with New Orleans owning a 16-10 record over their last 26 games in total. Too little, too late is a phrase made for times like this though, as that followed up a 7-23 start. That's just too deep of a hole to dig out of and New Orleans would have to win over 70 percent of their games from here on out to even have a slim chance to reach the postseason. The good news is that they appear to be in good hands for the future. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have developed into a dominant duo while Jrue Holiday was just locked down in a long-term deal.

The Trail Blazers (25-31) only success has come at home this season, posting a 15-11 record at Moda Center. That's actually way below their home record from last season and it's indicative of how poor the season has gone as a whole. Portland now finds themselves five games back of the Memphis Grizzlies in eighth and that's quite the gap to make up with just 26 games remaining. If that wasn't already an uphill battle, they also have to win without Damian Lillard. The All-Star point guard is currently dealing with a groin issue and one has to wonder how they can win games without him. The good news is that he'll only miss a week but that's games they need from their best player in desperation mode.

These teams have already played three times this season, with New Orleans winning all of them by at least eight points apiece. Ironically, Portland swept the four-game season series over the Pelicans last year.