After starting this season 0-6 in the Smoothie King Center, New Orleans has gone 19-15 and now has an opportunity to begin the Western Conference play-in tournament on its home floor next week. Facing an inexperienced Portland team Thursday, the Pelicans looked like a team highly motivated to make sure that happens.
New Orleans reduced its magic number for the No. 9 seed in the West to two. The 33-point margin of victory is tied for the second-largest by the Pelicans this season (won by 34 at San Antonio on March 18).
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
CJ McCollum swished a wing three-pointer, his fourth trey of the night, to give New Orleans a 77-58 lead early in the third quarter.