Trail Blazers 105, Pelicans 101
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Guard Damian Lillard scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 105-101 Monday night at the Moda Center.
Guard Gerald Henderson came off the bench for 19 points, guard C.J. McCollum chipped in 16 points and center Mason Plumlee collected 15 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Trail Blazers (11-15), who had lost three of their previous four games.
Forward Anthony Davis poured in 28 points with nine rebounds for New Orleans (6-18), which has lost eight of its last 10 contests. Guard Tyreke Evans had 19 points and 12 boards and guard Jrue Holiday added 19 points for the Pelicans.
McCollum scored 12 points as the Blazers took a 50-48 lead into intermission. Davis had 14 points for the Pelicans at the break.
Lillard hit back-to-back 3s and a long jump shot as Portland started the third quarter with an 18-8 run to go ahead 68-56. The Blazers' edge was 78-69 heading into the final period.
Guard Norris Cole sank consecutive shots from beyond the arc to draw New Orleans to within 87-82 with 6:51 left. The Pelicans still trailed only 97-92 after a layup by Evans with 1:52 to play, and cut the margin to 99-95 on Evans' 3-point play with 1:30 remaining.
McCollum sank a pair of free throws to make it 101-95, but Davis answered on a layup with 53.6 seconds to go. After a Portland turnover, McCollum stripped Holiday as he went up for a shot.
Lillard then made four straight at the line to clinch the victory.
NOTES: New Orleans G Jrue Holiday, who has battled an assortment of leg injuries the past couple of years, has missed six games this season and is limited to less than 30 minutes per game. "But it's a lot better than the 10 and then 15 minutes we started the season with," coach Alvin Gentry said. "And in January, (minutes) will be lifted." ... Portland coach Terry Stotts calls New Orleans F Anthony Davis "one of the most, if not the most, versatile big guys in the league. He can shoot it with range. He's a force at the basket. He can put the ball on the floor. He has an impact on the defensive end. There's still room to grow, but he's very talented in a lot of different ways." ... The Trail Blazers are 1-8 this season in games decided by five points or fewer, losing their last eight. "I'm disappointed with our fourth-quarter defense," said Stotts, noting recent close losses against Dallas, Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York. "For us to turn the tide, our fourth-quarter defense has to be better." ... In the teams' previous matchup, a 112-94 Portland home victory in the Trail Blazers' season opener, G CJ McCollum went for a career-high 37 points.