Good news: The Trail Blazers fought, scratched and clawed their way back into a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on a night in which Portland’s stars couldn’t hit water if they were already underwater. And despite a poor shooting night, Portland only lost by two points, 97-95.
Bad news: That final score makes the game appear closer than it actually was. The Trail Blazers fell behind by 19 points and only got within two points on a meaningless, game’s-already-over, three-point shot by CJ McCollum.
Good news: For a short while at the beginning of the second quarter, a squad made up mostly of Portland’s second-teamers not only kept the Blazers in it, but actually took the lead.