Game Thread GAME# 57: PELICANS @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 21, 2020 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
23 - 32
(12-15 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
25 - 31
(15-11 Home)

_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

LONZO BALL VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SG

JRUE HOLIDAY VS GARY TRENT Jr.

PF

BRANDON INGRAM VS TREVOR ARIZA

PF

ZION WILLIAMSON VS CARMELO ANTHONY

C

DERRICK FAVORS VS HASSAN WHITESIDE

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------- JERSEYS -------

---

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PST), FRIDAY, 2/21/2020

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

---- NEW ORLEANS PELICANS ----

GRAY , JACKSON , MOORE

REDICK , ALEXANDER-WALKER , HART

WILLIAMS, , CHEATHAM , MELLI

OKAFOR , HAYES

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , LITTLE , HOARD

GABRIEL , SWANIGAN , BROWN



INJURIES
PELICANS
Kenrich Williams (back): QUESTIONABLE
Darius Miller (Right Achilles Surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Damian Lillard (right groin strain): OUT
Mario Hezonja (sprained left ankle): OUT
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

ALVIN GENTRY --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL PELICANS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Friday's game will be the fourth and final matchup between the Trail Blazers and the Pelicans during the 2019-20 season. New Orleans leads the season series, 3-0.

• LAST MEETING: New Orleans beat Portland, 138-117, in New Orleans on Feb. 11. CJ McCollum led Portland with 20 points (7-17 FG, 4-8 3-PT, 2-2 FT), one rebound and three assists, while Zion Williamson paced the Pelicans with a career-high 31 points (10-17 FG, 11-14 FT), nine rebounds, and a career-high five assists.

• Portland and New Orleans have split their last 10 meetings, 5-5. The Trail Blazers swept the 2018-19 season series, 3-0.

• CJ McCollum has scored at least 20 points in each of his last five outings against the Pelicans, going 14-of-35 (40.0%) from 3-PT range over that five-game span.

• Damian Lillard had 20 points (6-16 FG, 8-9 FT), five rebounds and six assists against New Orleans on Feb. 11. Lillard is averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two games against the Pelicans this season. Lillard has scored at least 20 points in seven of his last eight matchups with the Pelicans, including a 41-point outing on Mar. 27, 2018 in New Orleans.

• Hassan Whiteside recorded 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go with 14 rebounds, three assists and one block against the Pelicans on Feb. 11. Whiteside has recorded a double-double in each of his last four games against New Orleans.

• JJ Redick had 20 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 3-PT, 6-6 FT), two rebounds and two assists against Portland on Feb. 11. Redick is averaging 18.0 points (50.0% FG, 50.0% 3-PT, 91.7% FT) in three games against Portland this season.

• Brandon Ingram missed the Pelican's last game against the Trail Blazers with a right ankle sprain, but on Dec. 23 put up 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals against Portland. He is averaging 20.0 points (36.8% FG, 30.0% 3-PT, 100% FT), 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.00 steals in two games against the Trail Blazers this season.

• CONNECTION: Portland guard Gary Trent Jr. and New Orleans guard Frank Jackson were teammates at Duke during the 2017-18 season.

• CONNECTION: Trail Blazers forward Trevor Ariza played two seasons for New Orleans from 2010-12, averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 33-28
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 21-9
AT THE PELICANS: Trail Blazers lead, 17-14

 

[Darkwebs]

The 2nd part of the NBA regular season starts here, with the Blazers hosting a 3-game homestand. Portland currently has 5 straight homes wins, so let's see if the Blazers can keep the good times rolling.

First up on this homestand will be New Orleans. Portland needs to treat this as a revenge game for the 3 losses the Pels have hung on them this season (oh and for the 2018 Playoffs sweep as well).

Lillard may be injured, but he still wants the team to make the Playoffs. Winning this game against a team who is gaining ground on them would be huge.

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Must win. Cj needs to step up so as Simons

let go

 

[BigGameDamian]

Must win. Cj needs to step up so as Simons

let go

Zion's going to kill us just like the last game.

 

[HailBlazers]

Zion's going to kill us just like the last game.

Nah the little Zion stopper is back.

 

[hoopsjock]

Nah the Little Zion stopper is back.

FTFY

 

[PHXBlazer1]

They have 11 guys on their bench?

 

[kjironman1]

4 starters out. Is "injuries" a viable excuse for this game?
If they win will the CJ hate stop?
Will Coach Stotts be able to solve the "log jam" of available players for the second unit?
Will Melo be dreaming of Cancun?
Who will be the first to get a Tech? Ariza?
Is Zion gonna do the Blazers any "Favors" or will Hassan "Saddle up" and carry the Blazers to Victory!

All these questions and more TONIGHT!
Where- 1 N. Center St. Portland OR 97227
When- 7:30

ESPN will be on full Yawn Mode and expect pretty much every highlight to be about Williamson but you will get a side glance here and there of Lillard in street clothes.

 

[Scalma]

Trent should at least get an opportunity to show he’s more than just a spot up shooter. Thought he was a better playmaker than Simons at summer league. We’ll see where he’s at now.

 

[stampedehero]

Whatever you do don't bet on The Blazers to win by 20.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

4 starters out. Is "injuries" a viable excuse for this game?
If they win will the CJ hate stop?
Will Coach Stotts be able to solve the "log jam" of available players for the second unit?
Will Melo be dreaming of Cancun?
Who will be the first to get a Tech? Ariza?
Is Zion gonna do the Blazers any "Favors" or will Hassan "Saddle up" and carry the Blazers to Victory!

All these questions and more TONIGHT!
Where- 1 N. Center St. Portland OR 97227
When- 7:30

ESPN will be on full Yawn Mode and expect pretty much every highlight to be about Williamson but you will get a side glance here and there of Lillard in street clothes.

Yes
No
Dunno
I am
Yes
No

 

[Chris Craig]

 

[tlongII]

I don't see any way we win tonight. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[stampedehero]

Slipin...Twisten and pulverizing those balls for a win. JB knows that's what it takes.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Memphis losing at Sacramento started off the stretch run in a positive direction - so I will go in blindly hoping for a win!

 

[Darkwebs]

They have 11 guys on their bench?

No, but since I don't follow the Pelicans closely, I am unsure of who is active for each game. So I choose list all the non-injured guys that aren't starting.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Good news that Little is back.

 

[Scalma]

Hopefully Stotts isn’t stupid enough to put Biggie on Zion again. Gabriel and Nas are much better options. So would Hoard too bad he’s not up.

 

[DDolla]

Memphis losing at Sacramento started off the stretch run in a positive direction - so I will go in blindly hoping for a win!

And Memphis in a back to back today against the Lakers

 

[kjironman1]

Hopefully Stotts isn’t stupid enough to put Biggie on Zion again. Gabriel and Nas are much better options. So would Hoard too bad he’s not up.

Gabriel will do nothing but foul and will be out inside 15 minutes. Hoard is listed as available but is not even close to a viable option. The best option is Little but even he will not be able to compete with the likes of Zion. Biggie will get minutes for sure at this point as well as Melo.

 

[Scalma]

Gabriel will do nothing but foul and will be out inside 15 minutes. Hoard is listed as available but is not even close to a viable option.

Thanks coach. And no, Hoard is not available.

 

[kjironman1]

Thanks coach. And no, Hoard is not available.

Available or not it still would not be a viable option. Somebody better get the listing fixed because he is indeed listed as available.

 

[Scalma]

Available or not it still would not be a viable option. Somebody better get the listing fixed because he is indeed listed as available.

He’d be a lot better option than Biggie. Has more experience playing against Zion as well.

 

[BonesJones]

Would rather foul than give up open layups or dunks.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

I think if the Blazers lose tonight and perhaps the next couple without Dame, it's really time to pack it in. Save Nurk, Collins, Hood for next season, get the young kids some heavy minutes, and hope for lightning in the bottle for the draft.

Next year should be a great rebound year.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I think if the Blazers lose tonight and perhaps the next couple without Dame, it's really time to pack it in. Save Nurk, Collins, Hood for next season, get the young kids some heavy minutes, and hope for lightning in the bottle for the draft.

Next year should be a great rebound year.

I've kind of thought what do they do if they go 0-5 without Dame (say he's out the full 5 games). Man they'd get killed if they brought him back and he got a serious injury when at that point they're basically completely out of contention for the 8th seed.

 

[Scalma]

I think if the Blazers lose tonight and perhaps the next couple without Dame, it's really time to pack it in. Save Nurk, Collins, Hood for next season, get the young kids some heavy minutes, and hope for lightning in the bottle for the draft.

Next year should be a great rebound year.

If Nurk is healthy he needs to play. We don’t want him knocking off the rust next season. He’s been out long enough. Same thing with Collins. If he’s healthy he needs to play. Just because the team is out of the playoffs doesn’t mean playing time isn’t valuable, especially for a guy that hasn’t really established himself in the league just yet. Don’t know why Hood is even mentioned.

 

[kjironman1]

He’d be a lot better option than Biggie. Has more experience playing against Zion as well.

Can’t argue against that really? It’s a shame we are even discussing it.
Better option Biggie Swanigan or Jaylen Hoard? Hmmmm what to do? Dammit Stotts!

 

[James lamphear]

If Nurk is healthy he needs to play. We don’t want him knocking off the rust next season. He’s been out long enough. Same thing with Collins. If he’s healthy he needs to play. Just because the team is out of the playoffs doesn’t mean playing time isn’t valuable, especially for a guy that hasn’t really established himself in the league just yet. Don’t know why Hood is even mentioned.

They need to play so Stotts and Olshey can see them in rotation maybe by the end start them with Dame CJ Ariza so they can get good luck out the starters next year.