NEW ORLEANS -- Brandon Ingram had 28 points, Canadian Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 22 of his 27 in the second half and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-97 on Tuesday night for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Josh Hart scored 20 points and Willy Hernangomez added 13 for the Pelicans, who shot 52.5% while winning for the eighth time in 13 games following a 3-16 start -- all while awaiting the return of 2021 All-Star forward Zion Williamsons from an offseason foot injury.
Damian Lillard scored 39 for Portland, which won its previous two games. Jusuf Nurkic added 17 points and Norman Powell had 16 for the Blazers, who were down just 92-91 after Lillard drained a long 3-pointer in the middle of the fourth quarter.
But the Pelicans began to pull away for good when Ingram hit a 20-foot jumper, Alexander-Walker added the fifth of his six 3s and Hart finished a driving layup to make it 99-91.
Neither team led by more than six in a back-and-forth first half that ended in a crowd-stirring exchange of baskets by Ingram and Lillard.
It began with Ingram's soaring two-handed jam on a baseline drive during which Nurkic appeared to just step out of the way rather than risk being dunked on.
Lillard followed with an explosive driving layup. Ingram answered with a three. Lillard came right back with a right-wing three of his own before Ingram hit another three from the left wing to give the Pelicans a 51-49 edge at halftime.
The Pelicans opened a 13-point lead in the third quarter, when Ingram's driving dunk and 3s by Hart and rookie Herbert Jones highlighted a 14-0 run. But threes on consecutive Portland possessions by Powell and Larry Nance Jr. helped the Blazers begin to trim the deficit.
Lillard added a three and a driving floater late in the period to cut it to 79-78 before Alexander-Walker beat the horn with a fall-away to give New Orleans a three-point lead heading to the fourth.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Lillard eclipsed 20 points for the 20th time this season and surpassed 30 for the sixth time. ... Nance finished with 10 points. ... The Blazers shot 13 of 34 (38.2%) from 3-point range. ... Made 14 of 19 free throws.
Pelicans: Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 16 rebounds, and Devonte' Graham added 10 points. ... Outscored Portland in the paint 48-38. ... Made 15 of 18 free throws. ... Before the game, New Orleans signed guard Jared Harper to a two-way contract and waived two-way player Daulton Hommes. Harper had been playing with the Pelicans' G-League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in the first of three straight home games.
Pelicans: Visit the Orlando Magic on Thursday night in the first of two consecutive road games.
