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4w ago

Blazers Beat Pelicans to Bolster Play-In Positioning

Eighth place would cut their path to the playoffs to one play-in win.

Mar 31, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) gestures after the game against the LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
4/1/2026
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Mar 8, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) reacts after banging his hand during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Portland topped New Orleans 118-106 on Thursday, with Jrue Holiday hitting seven threes for 27 points as Deni Avdija scored 26 and Toumani Camara added 23 in a 20-of-51 team night from deep.
  • The Blazers set up the surge with Tuesday’s 114-104 win at the Clippers, when Avdija posted 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and Portland turned 18 offensive boards into 32 second-chance points.
  • The two wins moved Portland to 40-38 and into eighth in the West after the Clippers lost to the Spurs, improving the Blazers’ odds of needing only one play-in victory to reach the playoffs.
  • The NBA approved a reported $4.25 billion sale to a Tom Dundon-led group earlier in the week, and the new owners have taken control and were courtside for the recent games.
  • Portland has clinched a play-in spot and finishes with Denver, San Antonio, Sacramento and an April 10 home game against the Clippers that could decide final seeding.