Trail Blazers top Pelicans 118-106 behind Jrue Holiday

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 118-106 on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Moda Center, with Jrue Holiday leading the way with 27 points and nine assists in a balanced home win. Portland used a strong second half to turn a halftime deficit into a comfortable result.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Both teams found an early rhythm, but Portland edged ahead 35-32 after one quarter. The Trail Blazers moved the ball well and kept pace with New Orleans despite the Pelicans putting together an efficient opening stretch on offense.

Second Quarter

New Orleans responded with its best period of the night, outscoring Portland 33-25 in the second quarter to take a 65-60 lead into halftime. The Pelicans consistently got to the free-throw line in the first half and did enough offensively to put the home team on the defensive.

Third Quarter

The game shifted after halftime. Portland outscored New Orleans 28-16 in the third quarter, tightening up defensively and taking better control of the shot profile. That swing erased the five-point halftime deficit and gave the Trail Blazers an 88-81 lead entering the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

Portland stayed in command in the final period, adding a 30-25 edge in the fourth quarter to close out the 12-point victory. The Trail Blazers continued to create quality perimeter looks and got enough stops to keep New Orleans from putting together a late push.

Key Performers

Portland Trail Blazers
Jrue Holiday set the tone with 27 points and nine assists, finishing as Portland’s top scorer and top playmaker. Robert Williams III led the team with 10 rebounds, helping the Trail Blazers finish with a slight 46-44 edge on the glass. As a team, Portland hit 20 of 51 from three-point range, a key factor in the outcome.

New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears paced the Pelicans with 21 points, while Trey Murphy III led the team with eight rebounds. Derik Queen added seven assists as New Orleans totaled 24 on the night. The Pelicans were solid from the field at 45.2 percent and from three at 37.5 percent, but their offensive production dropped significantly in the third quarter.

NerdSports Stat: Portland made 11 more three-pointers than New Orleans, and that 33-point gap from beyond the arc was larger than the final margin of victory.

Game Analysis

This game largely came down to second-half control and three-point volume. Portland attempted 51 shots from beyond the arc and converted 20 of them, giving the Trail Blazers a steady scoring source even when possessions slowed down. New Orleans was efficient, but with only 24 three-point attempts, it could not match Portland’s output from the perimeter.

The third quarter was the decisive stretch. After allowing 65 first-half points, Portland held the Pelicans to 16 in the third and flipped the game with improved defensive pressure, cleaner half-court execution, and stronger ball movement. The Trail Blazers also finished with 26 assists, a sign of how consistently they generated offense through the pass rather than relying on isolation.

Another important difference was game flow. New Orleans did a better job getting to the line, making 21 free throws to Portland’s 14, but the Trail Blazers offset that advantage with perimeter efficiency and a more productive closing stretch. Once Portland moved in front after halftime, it maintained the tempo and limited second chances for a Pelicans team trying to recover on the road.

Closing Context

The win moved Portland to 40-38 overall and 22-17 at home, an important late-season result as the Trail Blazers continue to strengthen their position in the Western Conference race. New Orleans dropped to 25-52 and 9-29 on the road. With only a handful of games left on the schedule, Portland’s ability to respond after halftime could carry added weight in the playoff picture.

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