PORTLAND – At one end of the floor Sunday, New Orleans players picked off passes, swiped the ball from Los Angeles dribblers and generally got in the way of the Lakers’ plan of attack. The result was a season-high 14 Pelicans steals – more than New Orleans’ total in the previous two games combined – leading to a multitude of prime opportunities going the other way.
For New Orleans (1-2) to have a chance to post a second straight road victory vs. a Western Conference opponent, it may need similarly pesky defensive play Tuesday against Portland (2-1). One week into the regular season, the Trail Blazers are second in the league in offensive efficiency (114.