The Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans both entered Tuesday night’s contest missing key players. Both played hard, accentuating their strengths, committed to winning. As one would expect under those circumstances, the game remained close throughout, neither team taking control for long. But in the end, Portland’s single superstar—Damian Lillard—was effectively countered by the Pelicans’ two: Brandon Ingram and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. New Orleans shaved a little off of Lillard’s production, but couldn’t stop him. The Blazers weren’t fielding any defenders tall enough to stop Ingram or quick enough to watch Alexander-Walker. Slowly, but inexorably, the difference showed.
Ingram, Alexander-Walker Outshine Lillard in New Orleans
