The New Orleans Pelicans are still capable of heart-attack inducing, late-game performances. Fortunately this season, they’ve come out ahead more often than not.
New Orleans escaped Portland with a 117-107 victory over the Trail Blazers in the first game of its pivotal, four-game West Coast swing.
“We just had to pick up our sense of urgency,” Willie Green said. “The guys understand, Portland, they play hard. A lot of guys on their team are trying to earn an opportunity in the NBA. Those guys, they’re not giving you anything for free. They go out, they play hard, they rebound the ball, they play together.