The Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans are quickly becoming familiar foes in the early season.
After splitting two games in Portland during the first weekend, the Trail Blazers and Pelicans will face off for the third time on Monday night in New Orleans.
Both teams have faced early struggles.
The Blazers look to bounce back after two consecutive losses: a 137-114 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and a 103-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the short-handed Pelicans will complete their own back-to-back after a 126-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. Pelicans’ second-leading scorer Zion Williamson (hamstring) missed the game against the Hawks, joining four other key players on the sideline. Leading scorer Brandon Ingram stepped up with 32 points, making 12 of 19 field-goal attempts.
Coach Willie Green encouraged Ingram to take more 3-pointers, and he responded by going 4 of 8 from beyond the arc on Sunday. New Orleans had a one-point lead at halftime but was outscored 68-52 in the second half. Jordan Hawkins, who scored 19 points, pointed to the Pelicans’ 18 turnovers—six of which came in the fourth quarter—as a key reason for their second-half struggles.
Portland was outscored in the third quarter in both of their last two games. They were tied with the Thunder at halftime before being outscored 38-17 in the third quarter. Against the Suns, they led by four at halftime but fell behind by 22 entering the fourth quarter, ultimately rallying within two points in the final two minutes.
Coach Chauncey Billups was encouraged by the Blazers’ fight against the Suns after their earlier collapse against the Thunder.
The Pelicans won their first meeting with the Blazers 105-103 on Oct. 25, but Portland bounced back with a 125-103 win two nights later.
After Monday night, the teams won’t face each other again until Jan. 8 in New Orleans.
