The Portland Trail Blazers woke up quickly from a lackadaisical start Sunday afternoon to blow past the New Orleans Pelicans, 125-103, capturing their first win of the season. Energized by a small, but monster-impact dose of Donovan Clingan minutes and the usual Jerami Grant dependability, Portland avenged Sunday’s 105-103 loss to the same New Orleans squad.
“I really liked our resolve,” Portland head coach Chauncey Billups told reporters after the win. “That was a tough loss for us the other night. ... I just loved how we came back.”
A far cry from Billups’ quotes after Portland’s opening-night blowout versus the Golden State Warriors, he said Sunday’s win featured great individual performances.