Hot Shooting Strong Defense Leads Hornets Past Blazers 92-77

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

Okay aspiring NBA coach, want to know how to guarantee your team a victory in the Association? Simply shoot better than 50% from the floor, and hold your opponent to under 40%, and you will be assured of a win. Easier said than done? Well the New Orleans Hornets made it look almost effortless Friday night as they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden by the score of 92-77. The team from the “Big Easy” shot 51.3% (39-76) while holding their hosts to just 39.7% (29-73) from the field. It was the fourth straight win for the Hornets who are the Southwest Division leaders. Portland was without All-Star Brandon Roy for the second straight game, and the remainder of the team could not handle New Orleans without their leading scorer.

Neither team looked particularly sharp in the first, but the Hornets would end the quarter on top 21-16. The Hornets took a 7 point lead early in the second, but rookie Rudy Fernandez hit a pair at the charity stripe with 3:05 to play and tied the game at 36-36. New Orleans would regain the lead at the end of the period, walking into the locker room with a paper thin 45-43 advantage.

There was no smooth sailing for either team in the third quarter, as both opponents had problems scoring, and the game was dead locked at 61-61 heading into the fourth. The Hornets came back to life in the early moments of the final quarter, while the Blazers clearly looked like they had hit the proverbial wall. Hilton Armstong hit a shot with 5:47 left in the game, putting New Orleans ahead 74-65. Portland never recovered.

David West led all players as he scored 25 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal, in the Hornets victory. Chris Paul recorded yet another double-double, 17 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal, while “Super-Sub“ James Posey came off the bench with 15 points, 9 boards, and 2 assists. Peja Stojakovic would add 14 points, and Hilton Armstrong came up big off the bench with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, and 1 block.

Rudy Fernandez led the Blazers with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Travis Outlaw continues to impress coming in off the pine with 16 points, and 1 steal. LaMarcus Aldridge recorded a double-double, 13 points, 10 boards, 5 assists, and 1 steal, Joel Pryzbilla added 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal. New Orleans now has a record of 20-9, Portland is 20-13.

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