Blazers played a very close game and gave themselves a chance to win again, losing by 2 on a last second shot (108-110). Last season, Portland lost twice in NO, 99-63 on Feb 13th, and much the way they lost tonight on a last second shot (lay-up and 1 by Anderson) after Lillard sank a 3 with 11 seconds left in that game. ● LA and Lillard combined for 57 points tonight. LA passed Paxton for 5th on the Blazer franchise, all-time points leaders with 10,027 points. Jerome Kersey is 4th all-time with 10,067 points. ● Portland held NO to 2-11 from 3 (18.2%). Portland gave up a 36 point advantage in the paint, but only got back 30 from behind the arc. ● Portland had 9 bocks, anchored by Lopez who smacked 6. ● The Blazers had 25 assists on 39 makes. While no Blazer had more than 6 (Batum), Holiday had a season-high 13 of the Pelican’s 19 assists. Holiday also needed a season high 31 points to pull of the win for NO. ● Portland tied NO with 5 steals and 9 TOs. ● Portland shot an uncharacteristic 75% from the FT line. All 6 Blazers who attempted free throws tonight missed 1 free throw (18-24). Hit 3 of those and Portland heads to OKC with a win. Portland is still clutch: Portland is 14-5 in games within 5 points: shooting 46% from 2 and 3, 86% FT Within 5 points, last 5 minutes of the game: OffRtg: 127.9 DefRtg: 102.1 Portland is 12-3 in games within 3 points (Losses to: Dallas – Ellis buzzer beater/Mia – Bosh Hail Mary 3/NO – Evens jumper) shooting 46% from 3, 42% from 3, and 0.86 FT%. It’s obvious that giving up 40 points in the paint during the 1st half was frustrating, but Portland did better job in the 2nd half and gave themselves a chance to win. Portland is tied for 2nd best record in the West. On to OKC! Portland is 6-2 on the 2nd of back-to-back games. GO BLAZERS! Feel free to add what you liked about the game, and perhaps some hopes for what you hope to see versus OKC. P.S. Don’t feed the trolls.
Great Breakdown, Nice Work. Love the Blazers confidence to never be out of a game and fight to always have a chance to win. That said it was too little too late. Listening to LA after the game (TrailBlazers App Rocks!), he believes this team is good enough defensively to continue to win games but only if they bring the effort and intensity from the start.
Sorry, not many positives when you give up 54% shooting and 68 points in the paint to the Pelicans. You can't polish that turd.
Nobody got injured, that's one positive. We didn't lose in double overtime the night before facing OKC..another positive.
