Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers
When: Monday, Dec. 23, 10:00 p.m ET
Where: Moda Center
How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans, NBA TV
New Orleans headed into Golden State on Friday with a chance to potentially turn the tide on its season. After beating a reeling Timberwolves side, a trip to face the league-worst Warriors set up the Pelicans for a winning streak.
Instead, New Orleans bottomed out on the year. A 20-point comeback was entirely undone in the fourth when the Pelicans collapsed down the stretch and were outdone by D’Angelo Russell in the final minute.
Now, the team heads to Portland for a tougher task than any stop yet on their current road trip, facing one of the league’s best backcourts in Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and the Trail Blazers. Portland has the 10th-best offensive rating in the league and while the defense can be porous at times, they’re a side set up to potentially handle the Pelicans.
Carmelo Anthony will present New Orleans another potential problem. After a slightly rocky stretch in his first games of the season, Anthony has rounded more into form and is averaging 16.0 points per game on 41.7% shooting from three-point territory.
Between Anthony, Lillard and McCollum, it could be a long night yet again for a consistently struggling Pelicans defense.
