New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
Portland Trail BlazersOpen full analysis
Portland defeated New Orleans 118–106 on April 2 at Moda Center, with Jrue Holiday and Domantas Avdija combining for 53 points to lead the Trail Blazers past the Pelicans. Holiday scored 27 and Avdija added 26 as Portland shot 45.7 percent from the field and made 20 three-pointers, controlling the offensive glass with 45 rebounds and distributing 27 assists. New Orleans, led by Jeremiah Fears' 21 points and Trey Murphy III's 19, struggled in the third quarter, scoring just 16 points to fall behind decisively; the Pelicans finished 9-for-27 from three and committed 19 turnovers compared to Portland's 13. The final margin fell short of the Vegas total of 235.5, with Portland's defense holding New Orleans to 103.5 points per 100 possessions while the hosts maintained a 119.3 offensive rating. Portland's third-quarter clamp-down proved decisive, outscoring the visitors 28–16 in that frame to build a commanding lead. The win solidifies Portland's playoff positioning heading into the final stretch of the season.
