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The Portland Trail Blazers dropped their ninth consecutive game on Thursday night, falling to the host New Orleans Pelicans by a closing rating of 127-94. For Portland, just two online games stay just before a tricky year comes to a merciful stop. For the Pelicans, the acquire, alongside with a San Antonio Spurs decline, puts the them in stable posture to host the impending Participate in-In Tournament matchup among the two squads.
The Blazers jumped out to a scorching begin, but struggled mightily soon after the initially quarter. They ended up outscored 62-42 in the 2nd 50 % of the recreation. Drew Eubanks was a dazzling place, continuing his stellar stretch of perform with 20 details to direct the crew in scoring—his 15th straight game in double-figures. CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with a sport-substantial 23 factors, to go together with 7 assists.
For a quarter-by-quarter breakdown, see our Instantaneous Recap. Below ended up the essential takeaways from Thursday night’s action.
Fantastic Night time to be CJ
McCollum, the former Blazer, followed up a high quality performance in his return to Portland past 7 days with a different high-quality showing—this time in his new dwelling arena. He scored 11 points in the initially quarter to put the Pelicans in entrance, then place matters in cruise control as the guide ballooned from there. His 23 points came on 9-19 capturing, such as 5-10 from a few-stage land. Playing without the need of fellow star Brandon Ingram—a late scratch because of to a hamstring injury—he manufactured sure he gave his team enough to earn, but was capable to relaxation on the bench for a lot of the next fifty percent, logging just 29 minutes.
In the meantime, Portland’s remaining CJ, CJ Elleby, experienced potentially his finest offensive effectiveness of the period. He knocked down his very first two threes, scoring 13 details in the to start with 50 percent to guide the Blazers. He didn’t have as several options in the 2nd 50 %, but even now concluded with a occupation-high 17 factors on 7-11 taking pictures, hunting self-confident in the system.
Self-Inflicted Struggles
The town of New Orleans is world-renowned for its beignets, but the Blazers brought a distinctive pastry to the table on Thursday. Portland dedicated an unattractive 22 turnovers on the night time, leading to 36 details for the Pelicans on the other stop of the flooring. In addition, the Blazers authorized an astonishing 23 offensive rebounds to the Pels, although recording just 27 whole boards them selves. 6’7” rookie Herbert Jones and Willy Hernangomez experienced five each. Total, New Orleans dominated the glass 49-27.
The Blazers out-shot the Pelicans both of those from the field and from further than the arc, but the giveaways and 2nd opportunity opportunities allowed the Pelicans 24 far more industry goal makes an attempt on the night—the big difference in the video game. The Pels also had much more than twice as lots of totally free-throw attempts—31 to 13.
Huge Guy Battle
The undersized Blazers have been without having a legitimate centre considering that Jusuf Nurkic was shut down with a foot personal injury at the All-Star crack. It confirmed in opposition to the Pelicans. In addition to the rebound disparity, the Pels dominated the paint offensively. Jonas Valanciunas established the tone, scoring 14 details on 5-11 shooting before foul difficulties and the scoreboard minimal him to just 22 minutes. Hernangomez, his backup, feasted for 17 factors and 14 rebounds, bullying his way inside of from Portland’s more compact entrance line, although also drawing a number of fouls.
Eubanks was 9-11 from the area, although backup Reggie Perry turned in a stable effectiveness with 15 details on 7-10 taking pictures, but the duo simply just lacked the dimension to reign in their Pelican counterparts on the defensive end of the flooring.
Up Next
Portland’s highway vacation concludes tomorrow night time versus the Dallas Mavericks at 5:30 p.m. PT. They’ll then near out the time at property versus the Utah Jazz on Sunday.