PORTLAND – In the 16 seasons that New Orleans has joined Portland as a member of the NBA’s Western Conference, the Pelicans had never swept a season series from the Trail Blazers. Until Friday.
New Orleans took control of an ESPN national game with a big third-quarter push, rapidly stretching its lead from a possession to 19 entering the final period. The Pelicans wrapped up a 4-0 regular season sweep of the Blazers and sliced the distance between the teams in the West standings to just a half game.
The visitors capitalized on the absence of All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who missed two of the four matchups vs.