New Orleans Pelicans Hang On to Take Down Trail Blazers

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After a relatively underwhelming first day of the NBA Playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers made the nightcap worth watching, with the Pelicans hanging on to win 97-95.

How It Happened

Both teams went back and forth in the first quarter with neither team getting out to a significant lead. The lead changed hands six times and New Orleans was able to end the first quarter with a 21-18 lead thanks to a last-second layup from Jrue Holiday.

Things started to turn in favor of the Pelicans in the second quarter with CJ McCollum and Damien Lillard going cold from the field, going 0-for-6. That gave Anthony Davis a chance to pull away late in the second quarter and headed into the break up 45-36.

The third quarter saw the Pelicans really begin to pull away, going up by as much as 19 points with 4:25 left after a layup by Holiday. It seemed like the Pelicans were going to comfortably come away with a win, but Lillard and McCollum went off, combining for 21 points. The Trail Blazers were able to get the deficit down to one point with 59 seconds left in regulation after a three-pointer by Lillard, but they were unable to get another clutch three until the final seconds after a pair of free throws had already made it a two-possession game.

Big Number: 17

Playoff Rajon Rondo is still a thing. He has been a great facilitator down the stretch and he continued to do that with 17 assists on the evening.

Play of the Game: Holiday First-Team All-Defense? Yep!

Player of the Game: Anthony Davis

Davis was phenomenal in his first career playoff win, putting up 35 points, 14 boards (12 defensive), one assist, two steals, and four blocks. Great way to start the postseason for this team.

Next Up: Game Two Tuesday; Tipoff at 9:30 pm

-Clint Domingue