Pelicans at Trail Blazers
The New Orleans Pelicans allowed their highest total of points of the season in their last outing but are feeling encouraged for Friday's road game against the Portland Trail Blazers, the team they swept in the first round of last season's playoffs. New Orleans put up a big fight in the middle contest of its five-game road trip before succumbing 147-140 to Golden State on Wednesday.
The Pelicans are 1-2 on their trek, and coach Alvin Gentry was pleased with the level of play his club showed against the Warriors. "Obviously, you want to win every game," Gentry told reporters. "I don't see any shame in playing the NBA champs to the point where a few plays here and there made a difference in the game. I don't get anything out of a loss, but I do think we competed at a very high level." Portland defeated Cleveland 129-112 on Wednesday for its seventh win in 10 games, with five coming by double digits. Damian Lillard scored 33 points after recording 35 two nights earlier in a loss to Sacramento.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (21-24): Nikola Mirotic scored a season-high 29 points and matched his season best of six 3-pointers against the Warriors two nights after going scoreless in 17 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers. "I didn't have one of those nights where I felt comfortable, scoring zero points," Mirotic told reporters of the painful showing against the Clippers. "It was important for me to get back that confidence and just to feel important." Mirotic is just getting back into playing shape after missing 12 games due to an ankle injury.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (27-19): Jusuf Nurkic posted his first career triple-double against the Cavaliers as he registered 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while also blocking five shots. Nurkic, who became the 16th player in NBA history to reject five or more shots while recording a triple-double, has made five or more blocks in three of his last nine games. CJ McCollum scored 19 points against Cleveland after notching six on 2-of-14 shooting against Sacramento.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers recorded a 132-119 home victory over the Pelicans on Nov. 1 and have won 13 of the last 15 regular-season meetings.
2. New Orleans star PF Anthony Davis has scored 30 or more points in five straight games and is averaging 36 - as well as 14.8 rebounds - during the stretch.
3. Portland SF Maurice Harkless (knee) is questionable and may miss his sixth consecutive contest.