New Orleans Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego highlighted his team’s growth after a 143-120 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
“I saw some evidence of a team moving in the right direction on both sides of the ball,” Borrego said, emphasizing improvements in defense and offensive execution.
Borrego acknowledged a slow second quarter defensively but praised the team’s strong finish. “In the fourth quarter, our best defensive quarter, 23. Our goal is 25 and under, and they hit it, but I thought we took a step forward tonight,” he said, noting New Orleans’ ability to maintain defensive intensity late in the game.
The coach singled out Bryce McGowens for his standout performance. “Every time he’s on the floor, good things happen defensively, on the board, and in transition,” Borrego said. McGowens scored 23 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from three, helping New Orleans set a franchise record with 86 points in the paint.
Borrego also praised Jordan Poole in his first game back from an 18-game absence. “He’s just a savvy scorer. He keeps constant pressure on defenses and steadies the gym when it needs to be steadied,” Borrego said, as Poole contributed 22 points and boosted the Pelicans’ backcourt production.
The coach emphasized team play and ball movement as keys to the win. “Not only did we get downhill, but 35 assists on 10 turnovers for a team playing fast, in the paint, is a good formula for us,” he explained, highlighting the team’s balanced scoring with six players reaching 15 or more points.
Borrego addressed the ejection of Herb Jones before halftime but praised the team’s composure. “He felt bad not being there second half, but he was there to rally the guys and had them ready,” Borrego said, noting that New Orleans maintained a lead despite the setback.
The Pelicans’ focus on the possession game and aggressive interior play stood out. “Our guys did a really good job showing hands, chesting up, being physical without fouling… we won the possession battle by nine,” Borrego explained, pointing to 11 steals and 18 offensive rebounds as key factors.
New Orleans snapped a seven-game losing streak, improving to 4-22, while Portland fell to 9-16. Borrego concluded by stressing process over results. “The wins are going to take care of themselves as we move forward. It’s about doing the same thing tomorrow, getting back to work, and building habits,” he said.
