----- Pelicans used a 21-4 fourth quarter run to bury the Trail Blazers Thursday night at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Trey Murphy III scored a game-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and Bryce McGowens added 23 on a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 143-120 Thursday night at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Shaedon Sharpe led Portland (9-16) with 21 points and Sidy Cissoko added 20 points and four rebounds. The Trail Blazers were playing without Donovan Clingan, Yang Hansen, and Robert Williams III in addition to Jrue Holiday, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, and Scoot Henderson.
New Orleans (4-22) led by two at halftime and by four early in the fourth quarter. They used a 21-4 run to put the game away and closed the game on a 38-19 burst.
Rayan Rupert had his best game of the season with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
Portland connected on just 14-of-48 from three-point range and committed 16 turnovers leading to 18 points for the Pelicans.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers return home to meet the Golden State Warriors Sunday evening at Moda Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Hard to win games when you have so few players available.