Trail Blazers escape 16-point deficit, topple Pelicans late
93. 69. 102. 34. Final
After being down by as many as 16 points late in the third, the Portland Trail Blazers put the clamps on the New Orleans Pelicans, holding them to just 13 fourth quarter points while scoring 34 themselves to come out with a 102-93 win. The Trail Blazers now have the NBA’s longest winning streak in the NBA at 5 games, and are 8-3 on the season.
Recap
All hope seemed lost. After streaking out to an 8-0 lead, the Trail Blazers had sagged in that mopey kind of way that doesn’t give any hope that the tide will shift. Nursing a 1-point lead after the first quarter, they faced a 49-42 deficit at halftime, and it only got worse. With just 34 seconds in the third, the Pelicans were up by 16, their largest lead of the night. Gasping for air, the Trail Blazers were able to hit a pair of free throws and control an offensive rebound for a putback. Going into the fourth the Pelicans’ lead was “only” 12 at 80-68. Portland was lucky to be within striking distance after 12 first half turnovers.
That faintest glimmer of hope is what the Blazers needed. The crowd suddenly found their collective voice.
When C.J. McCollum hit a big three while New Orleans doubled LaMarcus Aldridge, the Trail Blazers climbed within seven at 83-76 with 8:20 to go in the game. After some traded buckets, an Aldridge jumper cut it to 85-80. Anthony Davis, blossoming into the unstoppable force befitting of a 6’10” man with a 7’5” wingspan, got a tip-in off a Pelicans miss, but Aldridge responded. The score was being whittled down! The lead was shrinking! (Insert Ron Paul “It’s Happening!” GIF here).
The Trail Blazers got a stop, and Steve Blake found Robin Lopez underneath for the bucket and the foul! The Trail Blazers got yet another stop, and Aldridge was so wide open for the bunny that he threw in an unnecessary post-move out of instinct on his clear way to the hoop. It was 87-86 with just over five minutes to go. The crowd had been whipped into a fury as the Pelicans were all of the sudden ice cold. Given three opportunities to take the lead, the Trail Blazers just couldn’t do it, as Matthews stepped out of bounds on one possession and the Trail Blazers failed to cash in on two others.
But the opportunity was still there. Aldridge got his first free throws with 3:30 left in the game, bringing Portland back to within one. And back and forth it went, as Lopez kept a Lillard miss alive to find Matthews for a three, tying the game at 91. The Trail Blazers stopped Anthony Davis which led to a wide open Lopez lay in on the other end, giving the Trail Blazers their first lead since the 2nd quarter. Portland’s defense locked down again, as Matthews forced a Tyreke Evans turnover, but the Trail Blazers turned it over themselves and allowed multiple offensive rebounds to let the Pelicans tie it back up.
However, in any time of trouble, Trail Blazers fans know who can save them. Lillard pulled his FlyKnit superhero cape over his unifrom, weaved through two picks, and splunked down a three to make it 96-93 Trail Blazers. More tough defense allowed the Trail Blazers to get the ball back, and Lopez was fouled while shooting. With the game in the balance, he hit one… then hit another! Now down by 5, the Pelicans flailed like they had one too many flopping fish in their mouth pouch, hoisting up a few disorganized threes, but to no avail. The Trail Blazers finally secured the rebound, Aldridge was fouled, hit a pair of free throws, and iced it. A few more free throws from Lillard brought the final score to 102-93.
Players
With the game knotted at 93 apiece, Damian Lillard gave the Trail Blazers the lead back late in the game with a deep three. No hesitation. He finished with 24-4-7 with 2 steals, and while he was only 2-7 from deep and had 4 turnovers, his confidence and ability to make things happen when the Trail Blazers desperately needed a spark more than made up for any less-than-stellar play.
LaMarcus Aldridge, perhaps still feeling the illness that kept him out of last game, battled through a tough first half but came alive as the game wore on. 16 of his 22 points came in the second half, and while Davis was giving him fits (as he does pretty much anyone who tried to guard him), Aldridge took a lickin’ but kept on tickin’. He also had 9 rebounds.
Robin Lopez was no match for Anthony Davis. Lopez did his best, which was sometimes good enough, but mostly it was an awkward dance of “let’s see if the much less athletic big man can stay in front of the power forward that plays like a guard.” The matchups didn’t play to his strengths, but Lopez still managed 8 and 6 with a block. He did a good job boxing Davis out in the fourth quarter, when the Pelicans started missing.
Wesley Matthews‘ struggles from the three point line continue, as he shot just 33% from downtown to finish with 16-5-2. Still, his doggedness and tenacity rubs off on players, making his team better even when he doesn’t stand out statistically. Those are the kinds of teammates franchises kill to have.
Chris Kaman was huge off the bench, getting 15 and 10 in just 21 minutes. Trail Blazers fans have to be liking what Kaman’s bringing, especially the fancy footwork in the post. He can fake it one direction, spin, and go up with the other hand faster than you can say, “that caveman is amazing at basketball!”
Steve Blake had 7 assists again, which speaks both to Blake’s ability and to the improvement of the Trail Blazers’ bench to be able to hit the shots they are given.
The Trail Blazers get 3 days off before moseying back into the Moda Center to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. PST.
Notes
- The Trail Blazers ended the game on a 34-10 run. THAT’S how you close it out!
- The Pelicans shot 4-24 shooting in the 4th quarter; Portland was 10-18 in the 4th.
- The Pelicans’ Evans, Jrue Holiday, and Eric Gordon went a combined 0-14 for 2 points in 4th quarter. Woof…
- Davis is a freak beast of nature. It’s not a stretch to say he could be the best player in the NBA someday.