Portland Trail BlazersOpen full analysis
New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 122–109 on January 2 at Smoothie King Center, with Dario Avdija leading Portland's balanced attack with 34 points while Shaedon Sharpe added 23 in a road victory that exceeded the Vegas total of 240.5 points. Zion Williamson paced the Pelicans with 35 points, but New Orleans struggled with efficiency and defensive lapses, shooting 44.9 percent from the field and allowing Portland to make 16 three-pointers on 44.6 percent shooting. The Blazers' second quarter proved decisive—they outscored the Pelicans 34–18 in that frame—and Portland's 27 assists on 122 points demonstrated ball movement that New Orleans's 22 assists could not match. Portland's defense was suffocating, posting a 106.9 defensive rating compared to the Pelicans' 128.2, while also controlling the glass with 46 rebounds to New Orleans's 42. The Pelicans committed 15 turnovers to Portland's 9, compounding their second-half struggles as the Blazers' fourth-quarter surge of 37 points sealed the outcome. Portland's road efficiency positions them well in the Western Conference standings as the calendar turns.
