Trail Blazers at Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans expect to have their two standout forwards on the floor when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Rookie phenom Zion Williamson and All-Star Brandon Ingram both missed Saturday's win over the Indiana Pacers due to ankle injuries and are on track to return.
The Pelicans are on the fringe of the Western Conference playoff race and they need to keep their key pieces healthy if they are going to make a run. "Every win is going to be important," New Orleans point guard Lonzo Ball said after the 124-117 win over the host Pacers. "We're trying to take games one at a time, not look too far ahead but we know there is a tough road ahead to even give ourselves a chance. So, we've just got to try to go 1-0 every time we play." Portland is one of the teams ahead of the Pelicans and it sits in ninth place in the West, 2 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies, who are Wednesday's opponent. "We feel like a winning team and we're playing like a winning team," Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard said after Sunday's 115-109 home win over the Miami Heat. "Obviously, we wish that we weren't in the position that we're in, but thankful that we've got a lot of games left. The way we're playing, it's looking like we're going to give ourselves a great shot at being in the playoffs."
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Northwest, FS New Orleans
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (25-29): Lillard continued his strong recent play with 33 points and eight assists against Miami but backup guard Gary Trent Jr. also was a key cog. Trent scored 22 points and is averaging 16.8 over the past four games, has made 15-of-27 3-pointers during the stretch and has recorded a career-best four steals in back-to-back games. "You just love to see it," Lillard told reporters. "I told him the other day, 'I don't know if I've been more proud or happier for another player or a younger player since I've been in the league.' A second-round pick, McDonald's All-American and went to Duke, but doesn't get an opportunity right away. He had a lot to learn, his dad played in the league, and he did it."
ABOUT THE PELICANS (22-31): Shooting guard Jrue Holiday picked up the slack with Williamson and Ingram sidelined and scored 14 of his 31 points in the final 2:26 of the win over Indiana. "I love to play this game," Holiday said afterward. "When you're hot and got it going, sometimes that happens. Guess I was feeling it, huh?" Holiday averaged nine points on 12-of-39 shooting in a three-game stretch before breaking out of his slump in a major way and knocking down four 3-pointers in the victory.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans are 2-0 against the Trail Blazers this season after losing the previous four meetings.
2. New Orleans SG JJ Redick scored 23 points off the bench versus Indiana for his first 20-point outing since tallying 24 against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 8.
3. SF Mario Hezonja (ankle), SG Anfernee Simons (concussion) and PF Nassir Little (ankle) all could miss the game for Portland.