Deni Avdija scored a team-high 26 points, leading the Portland Trail Blazers (13-23) to a wire-to-wire victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (7-31) on Wednesday night. Avdija, who shot 10-of-15 from the field, hit four three-pointers and contributed six rebounds as the Blazers secured a commanding 119-100 road win.
Shaedon Sharpe added 21 points, while Anfernee Simons and Toumani Camara chipped in with 17 and 15 points, respectively. Deandre Ayton also made an impact with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Portland shot 54.5% from the field.
New Orleans, struggling without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, fell behind early and never recovered. Williamson was held out as a precaution after returning from a hamstring injury the previous night, while Ingram missed his 14th consecutive game due to a left ankle issue.
The Pelicans have now lost 22 of their last 25 games, leaving fans frustrated with the team’s lackluster performances.
CJ McCollum led New Orleans with 23 points, while Dejounte Murray scored 20. However, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Pelicans’ shooting struggles, as the team managed just 44.4% from the field and committed 17 turnovers. Herb Jones, New Orleans’ top defender, left the game in the third quarter with a right shoulder injury, further complicating the Pelicans’ woes.
Portland capitalized on New Orleans’ sluggish start, jumping out to a 33-point halftime lead. The Blazers’ ball movement and efficient shooting proved decisive, as they finished with 24 assists while holding the Pelicans to 32.4% shooting from beyond the arc. The win marked Portland’s fourth in their last seven games, showing signs of improvement amid a challenging season.
Scoot Henderson provided a spark off the bench with 13 points and five assists, while Kris Murray, Robert Williams III, and Dalano Banton contributed key minutes. Portland dominated the paint, out-rebounding New Orleans 44-41 and scoring 50 points inside.
