Portland Trail BlazersOpen full analysis
New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
New Orleans defeated Portland 143–120 on December 11 at Smoothie King Center, surpassing the Vegas total line of 242.5 points with a balanced offensive attack. T. Murphy III led the Pelicans with 24 points, while B. McGowens added 23 as New Orleans shot 51.8 percent from the field and made 12 three-pointers. The hosts dominated the boards 57–41 and distributed 36 assists, controlling the tempo with just 8 turnovers against Portland's 15. S. Sharpe paced Portland with 21 points and S. Cissoko contributed 20, but the Trail Blazers' 44.1 percent shooting and 14 made threes proved insufficient; they were outrebounded decisively and scored just 23 points in the fourth quarter. New Orleans' defensive rating of 105.6 held Portland to 105.6 points per 100 possessions, while the Pelicans' 131.8 offensive rating showcased their efficiency. The third quarter proved pivotal, with New Orleans posting 35 points to extend their advantage. This victory signals New Orleans' growing depth and defensive cohesion in the Western Conference race.
