Trail Blazers fizzle in 4th, fall big at New Orleans Pelicans

For three quarters, the Portland Trail Blazers achieved the score of Anfernée Simons, Deandre Ayton and Dalano Banton to stay within striking distance of the New Orleans Pelicans.

But once the fourth quarter began, the Blazers suddenly found it horribly difficult to put the ball in the basket and were ultimately blown out of the Smoothie King Center by 126-107 on Saturday night in New Orleans.

Portland was outscored 24-15 in the final quarter shooting just 31.3%. The Blazers finished the quarter with more turnovers (seven) than baskets, shooting 5 of 16 and 1 of 6 from three-point range.

In total, the Blazers committed 20 turnovers on the night the Pelicans converted for 31 points.

“I thought we played well. The biggest thing is turnovers,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters. “You can’t absorb that against a really good team at home. We knew that’s what they were trying to do to do. They’re trying to deliver. So, thanks to them. They’ve done a good job.

Portland, again playing without Jerami Grant, scored 13 points off 10 Pelicans turnovers. The 18-point disparity in this area essentially destroyed a solid shooting night for the Blazers, who made 50 percent of their shots and 36.4 percent of their threes.

Simons returned from a minor knee injury to score 25 points with eight assists. He made 9 of 18 shots, including 5 of 10 from three-point range. Banton led the Blazers with 28 points, including 20 in a first half that ended with Portland trailing only 73-68.

“I thought his aggression in the first half spurred us on in a major way,” Billups said.

Center Deandre Ayton failed to reach double-digit rebounds for the first time since injuring his wrist Feb. 27 against Miami, but he still had 20 points with eight rebounds and shot 10 of 13 from the field.

On the other side, a familiar face, CJ McCollum, led all scorers with 30 points. He scored 13 in the fourth quarter. Zion Williams produced 26 points with 10 rebounds and Brandon Ingram scored 22.

The Pelicans shot 53.6% from the field and 39.4% from three.

The Blazers did a solid job overall on the boards with 36, including 10 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second chance points.

“I thought we did a good job of fighting them off the bounce,” Billups said. “We knew it would be a problem for us. But we fought them. We did a really good job on the glass. It was just the turnovers.

WHAT THIS MEANS

The Blazers (19-48) failed to take advantage of the return of Simons and a hot evening from Banton during their defeat against the Pelicans (41-26), fifth in the Western Conference. New Orleans has now won six of its last seven games.

FOLLOWING

The Blazers play Monday at 5 p.m. against the Chicago Bulls.