Trail Blazers Overcome Pelicans with Fourth-Quarter Surge

Portland capitalized on New Orleans' injury woes to secure a decisive 118-100 victory.

Anfernee Simons led the Trail Blazers with 24 points, while Deandre Ayton contributed a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Dalano Banton was pivotal in the fourth quarter, scoring all 20 of his points to help Portland outscore New Orleans 39-18 in the final period.
Brandon Ingram was the only regular starter available for the Pelicans, scoring 27 points as the team dealt with multiple injuries.
New Orleans played without key players including Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, and Herb Jones, significantly impacting their performance.
The Trail Blazers capitalized on their advantage in the paint, outscoring the Pelicans 66-38 inside and shooting 54.8% from the field.