Pelicans (34-48), Trail Blazers (41-41)
PORTLAND – In a tweet promoting its Wednesday NBA doubleheader, ESPN used a photo of Jrue Holiday to represent New Orleans, while going with third-string point guard Shabazz Napier for Portland. That pretty accurately summed up the approach to the season finale for the Trail Blazers, who rested an array of well-known players, letting their backups and seldom-used youngsters log prominent minutes. Meanwhile, the Pelicans sat both Anthony Davis (knee) and DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles).
Despite not having its two best players, New Orleans rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to overtake Portland, ending a five-game losing streak, as well as an 11-game skein in Moda Center.