Portland @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2019 ) Portland 122, New Orleans 110

Carmelo Anthony makes his return to the NBA on Tuesday when the Portland Trail Blazers visit the New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony is expected to play in his first game in more than 12 months and will attempt to provide some scoring punch for the struggling Trail Blazers.

The 10-time All-Star has a lot to prove after being discarded by the Houston Rockets early last season but said he is not interested in being defined by that unsuccessful stint. "What happened before is the past, I can't dwell on that. I learned from that," Anthony said in a YouTube video. "This happened in a point in my life where I do have a lot of clarity and understanding of different situations and just life. My approach is totally different." The Pelicans started the campaign 1-7 but have since won three of their past five games, including Sunday's 108-100 home win over the Golden State Warriors when the team was forced to rely on some young players in the wake of several injuries. "They always fight and they never give up," New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday said afterward. "I feel like that’s important to have that characteristic, that structure right now when sometimes you’re down like that to still fight. Even when we are up, not to give up."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV; NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (5-9): Portland's woes continued with a 132-108 road loss against the Houston Rockets and Anthony doesn't figure to help the defensive issues. An elite scorer in his prime, Anthony said he understands that point guard Damian Lillard and shooting guard CJ McCollum are the main cogs and is confident he'll fit in well with the duo. "I just look at that opportunity, that team and say, 'Look, this is what I can bring to the team. This is where I can help,'" Anthony said in his video. "It will only work if all parties see it the same way."

ABOUT THE PELICANS (4-9): Shooting guard JJ Redick scored a season-best 26 points against Golden State and knocked down six 3-pointers and is a red-hot 21-of-42 from behind the arc over the past four games. "I'm going into a game with zero expectations and agendas," Redick said afterward. "Some nights it's your night and some nights it's not. ... I'm just going to continue to play my game." Rookie forward Zion Williamson (knee) remains sidelined, and center Derrick Favors (back) and guard Josh Hart (ankle) will also miss the game against Portland with center Jahlil Okafor (ankle) listed as doubtful and small forward Brandon Ingram (knee), point guard Lonzo Ball (hip) and guard Frank Jackson (neck) listed as questionable.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Trail Blazers averaged 127.3 points while winning all three of last season's meetings.

2. Lillard had 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting against Houston and is 10-of-46 from the field over the past three games.

3. New Orleans rookie F Nicolo Melli established season highs of 16 points and five 3-pointers against the Warriors.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 118, Trail Blazers 114