PORTLAND -- Damian Lillard had an awful shooting night, making just 6-of-21 field goals and missing all 10 of his 3-point attempts as the New Orleans Pelicans scored a huge upset with a 102-94 win over the Blazers at the Moda Center in Portland.
Lillard still managed to finish with 18 points and seven assists but the Blazers saw their four-game winning streak came to an end.
"First time for everything. Tonight was one of those nights," Lillard said as he shrugged off the poor performance.
Carmelo Anthony led Portland with 23 points and C.J. McCollum added 20 but Portland made only four of their 29 three-point attempts. The Blazers were also out-rebounded, 55-48, and lost the assists battle, 23-17.
It was only their second win in 10 outings and the Pelicans did it with the leadership of point guard Jrue Holiday who tallied 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Brandon Ingram added 19 and 11 boards while J.J. Redick finished with 16.
New Orleans made only 38 of 93 field goals but their 15-of-35 fare from long distance was the difference-maker.
"Tonight they had a lot of points in the paint but how they shot the 3 was in our favors," Holiday told reporters while alluding to New Orleans' plus 33 edge on 3-point shooting.
Despite the defeat, the Blazers kept their hold of eighth place in the Western Conference with a 14-17 record. The Pelicans, meanwhile bumped up to 8-23 for 14th place also in the Western Conference.
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