Pelicans pull away in 4th to down Blazers

To be a playoff team in the deep, tough, Western Conference, you have to be tough physically and mentally.

To be a playoff team in the deep, tough Western Conference, you have to beat the teams you are supposed to beat.

To be a playoff team in the deep, tough Western Conference, you have to tough out wins when at less than full strength.

Coming off a disappointing loss to the Lakers, the New Orleans Pelicans accomplished those goals Saturday night, winning 93-84 at Portland.

The Blazers are a bad team looking beyond this season to the future.

The Pelicans are a good team looking at this season as a present opportunity to take a step forward as a contender.

The good prevailed over the bad but it was not easy, playing the second of back-to-back road games.

The Pelicans started well enough, taking a 29-24 lead after one quarter.

The next two quarters were ugly for New Orleans, which scored 33 points combined to lead 47-40 at halftime and 64-63 entering the fourth quarter. Portland actually took the lead in the third quarter before the Pelicans overcame it.

In the fourth quarter, New Orleans once again closed well, a trend of late which has been encouraging and has made it a better team.

Clinging to a 68-66 with 9:08 to play in the game, the Pelicans closed the game on a 25-18 run to get the needed win.

With Zion Williamson and Dyson Daniels out, New Orleans needed someone to step up.

Trey Murphy III answered the call.

In a season where he has shown flashes of brilliance, Murphy has not taken the step forward that so many expected after a good 2022-23 season.

Saturday night, he took that step.

Murphy got the start and led New Orleans with 24 points and five rebounds. Murphy sank 7-of-10 field goal attempts, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. His final 3-pointer with 2:29 to play sealed the deal for New Orleans.

Brandon Ingram had 17 points and nine assists while Jonas Valanciunas finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Naji Marshall returned from injury and scored 10 points off the bench.

CJ McCollum personified the toughness aspect for New Orleans.

Struggling mightily against his former team, McCollum could not make anything, sinking just 2-of-14 field goal attempts, including just 1-of-9 from 3-point range.

Still, McCollum had seven assists and his defense was huge throughout. New Orleans was a +/-22 with McCollum on the floor, the best of any player in the game.

A huge factor was New Orleans scoring 26 points off 18 Portland turnovers.

The Pelicans have showed toughness, now 4-4 in the second of back-to-back games.

New Orleans, which averages 116.5 points per game, 13th in the NBA, is now 2-2 in games scoring less than 100 points.

Now 31-22, the Pelicans moved into a virtual 3-way tie for fifth in the Western Conference with Sacramento and Phoenix.

The Pelicans conclude their Mardi Gras road trip Monday at Memphis.