The Portland Trail Blazers beat the New Orleans Pelicans to earn their seventh straight road win. Portland played without Maurice Harkless (left knee), who will undergo an arthroscopy. The timeline for his return is to be determined. New Orleans was without Rajon Rondo (wrist).
Some highlights of the Blazers win over the Pelicans.
Blazers in the First Half
Ugly start, friends.
New Orleans on a 10-2 run to take a 12-5 lead.
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
Timeout Portland with 7:01 left in the 1Q.
Blazers 2-for-9 from the field so far.#RipCity
Jusuf Nurkic was in foul trouble early, getting his first just 79 seconds into the game and his second with 4:51 left in the first quarter. But he would finish the game strong.
Damian Lillard got his second foul soon after.
Lillard picks up his second foul now. Blazers seem a step slow on defense, and their shots are falling short on offense. Tired legs? #RipCity
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
And yet, despite the ugly start, the Pelicans led by just four points, 24-20, after one. Portland shot just 8-for-25 (32 percent) in the quarter.
It stayed ugly to start the second.
Pelicans on an 8-0 run now. Blazers 2-for-13 from three.
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
But Portland made just enough shots and stole just enough balls (six) to stay in it.
At the half: Pelicans 49, Blazers 46.
Blazers were lucky to keep it that close.
At the half: Pelicans 49, Blazers 46.
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
Portland lucky it's that close.#RipCity pic.twitter.com/H4BlnFRJUR
Blazers in the Second Half
The second half started much like the first, with the Blazers displaying a lackluster offense and a sluggish defense. Nurk especially was at a disadvantage since he entered the third quarter with three fouls.
Nurkic picks up his third foul with 7.5 seconds left in the half. Shoved Davis in the back under the rim.
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
With 6:46 left in the third, the Blazers were still down, 63-56.
CJ McCollum was struggling, shooting just 2-for-11 from the field (including 1-for-5 from three). He would never get on track, finishing the game with seven points on 3-of-19 shooting.
CJ trying to buy a shot tonight against NOP. (He's 3-for-17.)#RipCity pic.twitter.com/YAzi6qoqUO
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
With about 5:15 left in the third, the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis fell to the floor holding his right ankle, but he was able to walk off the court under his own power and did not go to the locker room.
Anthony Davis is back in the game. Scored on his first play.
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
The Blazers pulled within three, 71-68, with 1:57 left in the third.
After three quarters: Pelicans 75, Blazers 71.
— Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) March 28, 2018
Blazers still in it, despite not playing all that well.#RipCity
And, thanks mostly to Lillard, the Blazers took a five-point lead, 89-84, with 7:41 left in the game.
Damian Lillard has scored 14 of the Blazers' 18 points in the 4th Q on 6-for-7 shooting ... he's carried the Blazers to a 89-84 lead over the Nola.
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) March 28, 2018
7:32 left.
A Solomon Hill three with 5:57 left tied the game at 91.
But there was just too much Damian. He would score 20 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 41 points and nine rebounds.
There was a mad scramble at the end, but the Blazers still managed to pull out a win, despite not playing their best for much of the game.
Blazers win 107-103.
Next: Blazers must weather the storm(s) before the storm(s)
Up next: A quick turnaround. The Blazers play Wednesday in Memphis against the Grizzlies (20-54). Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. PDT.