Pelicans turn away Blazers to stay hot

Field Level Media|published: Sun 11th February, 24:45 2024

Feb 10, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; New Orleans Pelicans small forward Brandon Ingram (14) drives for the basket between Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker (34) and small forward Jerami Grant (9, right) during the first half at Moda Center. credits: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Trey Murphy III scored 24 points to help the New Orleans Pelicans post a 93-84 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.

Brandon Ingram added 17 points and nine assists and Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Pelicans, who won for the fifth time in six games. Hebert Jones scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Naji Marshall added 10 points off the bench for New Orleans.

Jerami Grant scored 24 points and Deandre Ayton recorded 18 points and 17 rebounds for Portland. Dalano Banton added 12 points off the bench in his team debut for the Trail Blazers, who lost their fourth straight game.

New Orleans played without forward Zion Williamson (foot) on the second end of a road back-to-back set.

The Pelicans allowed more points (87) in the first half of their loss Friday to the Los Angeles Lakers than they did in the entire game on Saturday.

Portland was without guards Anfernee Simons (ankle), Malcolm Brogdon (illness) and Scoot Henderson (foot).

Murphy made 5 of 8 3-point shots but the Pelicans were just 10-of-27 from behind the arc. Overall, New Orleans shot 47.4 percent from the floor.

Marshall made two 3-pointers in an 81-second span of the fourth quarter to help the Pelicans grab an eight-point lead. Valanciunas added a dunk to make it 80-70 with 6:35 remaining.

Ingram's jumper made it 86-73 with 4:31 left and New Orleans closed it out.

The Trail Blazers shot 43.4 percent from the floor and were 6-of-21 from 3-point range.

The Pelicans led by seven at halftime and stretched their lead to 56-44 on Ingram's basket with 9:26 left in the third quarter.

A dunk by Valanciunas gave New Orleans a 61-52 lead with 5:23 left before Portland went on an 11-1 run. Banton's dunk and free throw capped the burst and gave the Trail Blazers a 63-62 lead with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter.

An inside basket by Larry Nance Jr. with 31.1 seconds left gave the Pelicans a 64-63 lead heading into the final stanza.

Murphy had 14 first-half points as New Orleans led 47-40 at the break. Ayton and Grant each scored 10 in the half for the Trail Blazers.

—Field Level Media