PORTLAND, Ore. -- While the Trail Blazers found it easy to score against the Pelicans, in the end it was their defense -- and some stops in the fourth quarter -- that helped Portland pull away.
Damian Lillard scored 26 points to help Portland beat New Orleans 132-119 on Thursday night in the first meeting between the teams since the Pelicans swept the Trail Blazers in the first round of last season's playoffs.
Jusuf Nurkic added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers, who made 18 3-pointers in their third straight win.