Hornets-Trail Blazers Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Dec 16 2012 11:43AM

While No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis has held his own when healthy, Damian Lillard is looking every bit like the NBA's top rookie.

As Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers try to match their best streak of the season, Davis looks to help the visiting New Orleans Hornets avoid equaling their worst Sunday night.

Selected sixth overall out of Weber State, Lillard continues to turn heads with averages of 18.9 points, 6.4 assists and 2.2 3-pointers to lead all first-year players.

"I'm not really surprised right now about Damian," teammate Nicolas Batum told the Blazers' official website. "I was surprised a couple of weeks ago."

Lillard was in a groove Thursday, posting season highs of 29 points and seven rebounds to go along with six assists in a 98-90 win over San Antonio.

"I think I've had a few better games even though this is the most points I've scored," he said. "I think this was the best I've done in a game we really needed."

While J.J. Hickson had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22, it was Lillard who left a lasting impression on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

"I think he's a wonderful player," Popovich said. "His skills are obvious, but I like his demeanor as much as I like his skills. He really plays within himself, he's not afraid of contact and he really understands how to take advantage of situations."

Davis hasn't been able to make the same impression because he has been on the court so infrequently, limited to nine games due to injuries. He's averaged 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds off the bench in three games after missing 11 due to a sore left ankle. Before that injury, he started all six of his games while averaging 16.0 points and 8.3 boards.

Davis does lead all rookies with 2.2 blocks per game, but the Hornets (5-17) have lost the last six games he's played and are riding a six-game losing streak overall. They dropped seven in a row Nov. 14-25.

The Blazers (10-12) won a season-high three straight Nov. 13-18 and can equal that streak Sunday. They've won five of six at the Rose Garden, going 2-1 on their current six-game homestand.

"Now we have to finish this week," Batum said. "We have a game Sunday against New Orleans so we can finish this week with three in a row. We have a huge stretch at home, three more games at home before we go on the road, so if we can get these three and get back to .500, it can be good."

Portland has to like its chances of keeping things going with New Orleans coming to town. The Western Conference-worst Hornets have dropped four straight in this series and 15 of 17 overall.

Their woes continued Friday in a 113-102 loss to Minnesota. New Orleans shot a season-high 53.8 percent but was outscored 70-42 in the paint and allowed the Timberwolves to shoot 53.4 percent.

"Our defense is not even close to what we are used to around here," said coach Monty Williams, whose team opens a four-game road trip Sunday. "I need to do a better job and get in there and figure out which guys are going to fight for this organization; that is not something that we are seeing on a consistent basis."

Rookie Austin Rivers had a season-high 27 points Friday while Greivis Vasquez scored 15 and dished out a career-best 17 assists.

"We needed this win right before we hit this road trip," Rivers said. "We're playing some tough teams on the road, but it is what it is. There's nothing we can do about it now. We just have to keep our heads up. It's a long season and anything can turn it around."

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Lillard's last-second 3 lifts Blazers over Hornets

By ANNE M. PETERSON
Posted Dec 17 2012 1:03AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) There was a split-second as his shot arced over a defender's hands that Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard realized his game-winning 3-pointer was going to fall.

"I looked. And it looked good," he said.

Lillard's 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left helped Portland hand New Orleans its sixth straight loss with a 95-94 victory over the Hornets on Sunday night.

After trailing by as many as 16, the Hornets tied it at 92 on Austin Rivers' 3-pointer with 50.9 seconds left. The Blazers then absorbed a blow when LaMarcus Aldridge suddenly came up limping and headed to the locker room with what appeared to be a left ankle injury, but Lillard came through to give Portland the win.

The winning shot appeared to come at the buzzer but a review put the 0.3 fraction back on the clock. Lance Thomas made an alley-oop layup from Ryan Anderson as time ran out for the final margin.

"You need .04 to get the shot off, so we just ran a play for execution. There was not time for us to get a shot off, with them grabbing and holding Ryan it was going to be tough for him to get a shot off, so we were working on execution," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "According to the rules you need .04 to get a shot off. It was a situation where we worked on something we would need in the future."

However, the NBA's so-called Trent Tucker rule says there has to be at least 0.3 on the clock for a player to gain control of a rebound or inbound pass and shoot a field goal. The only type of field goal which may be scored if the clock is at 0.2 or less is a tip-in or high lob.

J.J. Hickson had a season-high 24 points and added 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who have won three straight. Hickson has five straight double-doubles and 13 overall this season.

Anderson had 26 points, including seven 3-pointers, for New Orleans - so why he didn't take the final shot was perplexing.

"There was not a lot of time on the clock," Anderson said. "It would have been tough, I don't even know if we could have got a shot off in time. Coach was saying you need .04 to get set and get a shot off."

Aldridge had 20 points before leaving the game and the team later said that X-rays were negative. Lillard finished with 16 points.

"I was excited to win the game. We had a big lead, we let them fight back and tie the game up and we were looking at overtime, so I was kind of relieved and excited at the same time," Lillard said.

Wesley Matthews, who hit a 3-pointer to open the night for the Blazers, was making his return to the starting lineup after missing two games because of a strained left hip. The injury put him on the bench in street clothes for the first time in his four-year NBA career. He had played in 250 straight games, second-most among active players behind Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook.

Matthews was replaced by Victor Claver less than five minutes into the game and did not return. The Blazers said there was no specific injury, he just "didn't feel right."

Lillard stole the show in the battle of the rookies with Anthony Davis.

Davis, the top pick in last June's draft, is still getting his legs back after missing 11 games with a left ankle injury. In the first three games off the bench since his return, he averaged 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Hornets.

Against the Blazers he had 15 points. Before the stress reaction in his ankle, Davis was averaging 16 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Lillard, the sixth overall pick in the draft, has been the Western Conference's rookie of the month for both October and November, and was leading all rookies with an average of 18.9 points going into Sunday night's game.

Hickson pushed Portland's first-half lead to 51-38 with a layup and the Blazers went into the break ahead 54-43.

Aldridge's dunk made it 67-53 midway through the third quarter. But it was Hickson's 11 points that helped put the Blazers up by as many as 16 in the period.

Anderson's putback layup closed the Hornets to 82-75 with 7:55 left, but Luke Babbitt answered for the Blazers with a 3-pointer.

Anderson made a pair of free throws to close New Orleans to within 85-80. His 3-pointer pulled the Hornets to 90-87 with 3:21 left. Lance Thomas got them closer with a putback but Aldridge had a step-back jumper with 1:04 to make it 92-89.

Notes: Earlier Sunday, the Hornets signed forward Dominic McGuire to shore up their frontcourt in the absence of Jason Smith, who is out with a right shoulder injury. Smith was injured in the Hornets' loss at Oklahoma City earlier this week and is expected to be out about two weeks. McGuire averaged 2.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in just over 15 minutes per game for the Toronto Raptors earlier this season, appearing in 15 games before he was waived on Nov. 30. ... The Blazers held a moment of silence before the game for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting before the game. It is the second straight game with a moment of silence: On Thursday the team remembered the victims of the Clackamas Town Center mall shooting in suburban Portland.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Notebook: Trail Blazers 95, Hornets 94

Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:24 AM - Updated Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:24 AM

THE FACTS: Damian Lillard's 3-pointer with 0.3 remaining gave Portland a 95-94 victory over New Orleans on Sunday night at the Rose Garden.

The Hornets (5-18) had rallied from a 16-point third-quarter deficit to tie the game at 92-92 on Austin Rivers' 3-pointer with 42 seconds left. After a timeout with 4.2 seconds to go, the Trail Blazers inbounded to Lillard, who launched a 26-foot three that swished through the net. The Hornets inbounded and Lance Thomas converted a meaningless layup at the buzzer.

J.J. Hickson collected 24 points and 16 rebounds for Portland (11-12), which won its third straight game. Ryan Anderson scored 26 points and Greivis Vasquez contributed 23 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for New Orleans, which lost its seventh in a row.

QUOTABLE: "When I let it go, I got it over the top of (defender Austin Rivers') hands. I was like, 'That looks good. That's going in.'"

-- Damian Lillard on his game-winning 3-pointer

THE STAT: Nicolas Batum finished with 11 points, 10 assists, five steals and five blocked shots in 42 minutes. He became the first player with at least 10 assists, five steals and five blocks in a game since Jamaal Tinsley in November 2001.

TURNING POINT: New Orleans trailed 69-53 midway through the third quarter but, led by Anderson and Vasquez, gradually reeled the Blazers in over the final 18 minutes. Lillard's buzzer-beater made the rally for naught.

QUOTABLE II: "We put ourselves in a hole in the first half with turnovers, giving them easy buckets, and we had a couple of guys who just didn't give us much tonight. But we had a group of guys in the second half who competed, and we played hard. A lot of nights we're outmatched talent-wise, but when you fight like that you give yourself a chance to win."

-- New Orleans coach Monty Williams, referring to the fact that 11 of the Hornets' 14 turnovers came in the game's first 19 minutes.

HOT: Anderson was sensational from 3-point range, knocking down 7 of 10 from beyond the arc.

NOT: Portland rookie Will Barton played five minutes in the first quarter and got up six shots, making one.

GOOD MOVES: Batum took the ball in right frontcourt, got a step on New Orleans' Xavier Henry along the baseline and rose for a power dunk early in the fourth quarter.

BAD MOVE: With Portland ahead 95-92 and 0.3 left, the Hornets had time to catch and shoot a 3-pointer to tie. It was their only chance to win. Williams chose instead to run a play that allowed Thomas to score a meaningless 2-point basket at the buzzer.

QUOTABLE III: "We bent, but we didn't break. I was pleased with that. After we got the lead to 16, we had some loose possessions. We could have pushed our lead a little bit more. That bit us as the game went forward."

-- Portland coach Terry Stotts

NOTABLE: Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, who scored 20 points, left in the final seconds with a sprained left ankle. X-rays were negative.

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Tuesday @ Golden State, Wednesday @ L.A. Clippers, Friday @ San Antonio. For the Trail Blazers, Thursday vs. Denver, Saturday vs. Phoenix, Sunday @ Sacramento.

• Hornets: Gordon, Smith
• Trail Blazers: Freeland, Williams

• Hornets: --
• Trail Blazers: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #16 David Guthrie, #79 Kevin Scott
• Attendance: 18772
• Duration: 2:13

New Orleans Hornets (5-19)		Portland Trail Blazers (12-12)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Hickson vs Lopez (Vasquez gains possession)
Anderson Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	11:42
	11:25 [POR 3-0]	Matthews 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Hickson (1 AST)
Rivers Running Jump Shot: Missed	11:14
	11:12	Hickson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	11:08	Lillard Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Vasquez Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:48 [NOH 2-3]
	10:24 [POR 5-2]	Hickson Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Batum (1 AST)
Lopez Layup Shot: Missed	10:04
	10:02	Hickson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	09:52 [POR 7-2]	Hickson Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Lillard (1 AST)
Lopez Layup Shot: Missed	09:27
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	09:26
Lopez Putback Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	09:26 [NOH 4-7]
	09:03 [POR 10-4]	Lillard 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Aldridge (1 AST)
Lopez Hook Shot: Made (4 PTS)	08:38 [NOH 6-10]
	08:30	Aldridge Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
	08:30	Matthews Substitution replaced by Claver
Lopez Hook Shot: Missed	08:11
Team Rebound	08:11
Vasquez Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (1 TO)	08:10
	07:58	Lillard Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:55
Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (1 AST)	07:49 [NOH 9-10]
	07:35	Hickson Step Back Jump shot: Missed
Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:34
Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Batum (1 ST)	07:26
	07:14	Aldridge Turnaround Fadeaway shot: Missed
Aminu Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:12
Rivers Foul: Offensive Charge (1 PF)	07:02
Rivers Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	07:02
Lopez Substitution replaced by Davis	07:02
Rivers Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)	06:55
	06:55 [POR 11-9]	Lillard Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)
	06:55 [POR 12-9]	Lillard Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)
Vasquez Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Hickson (1 BLK)	06:44
	06:42	Hickson Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
Anderson Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	06:31
	06:31 [POR 13-9]	Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
Aminu Substitution replaced by Henry	06:31
Rivers Substitution replaced by Mason Jr.	06:31
	06:31 [POR 14-9]	Aldridge Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed	06:13
	06:12	Batum Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:01	Hickson Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Henry (1 ST)
Henry Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Batum (1 BLK)	05:57
Team Rebound	05:57
	05:57	Team Timeout : Regular
Davis Driving Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (2 AST)	05:47 [NOH 11-14]
	05:21	Batum Jump Shot: Missed
	05:19	Team Rebound
	05:19	Hickson Substitution replaced by Babbitt
	05:19	Claver Substitution replaced by Barton
	05:13 [POR 16-11]	Aldridge Turnaround Hook Shot: Made (4 PTS)
	05:03	Lillard Foul: Personal (1 PF)
Mason Jr. Jump Shot: Missed	04:48
Anderson Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	04:47
Vasquez Running Hook Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Mason Jr. (1 AST)	04:31 [NOH 13-16]
	04:12 [POR 19-13]	Babbitt 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Barton (1 AST)
Davis Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (3 AST)	03:55 [NOH 15-19]
Anderson Foul: Personal (2 PF)	03:37
Anderson Substitution replaced by Thomas	03:37
	03:35 [POR 21-15]	Barton Driving Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Batum (2 AST)
Mason Jr. 3pt Shot: Missed	03:11
	03:11	Lillard Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	02:51	Aldridge Step Back Jump shot: Missed
Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	02:50
Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Batum (2 ST)	02:43
	02:32	Barton 3pt Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	02:29
Thomas Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (4 AST)	02:13 [NOH 17-21]
Thomas Foul: Personal (1 PF)	02:00
Team Timeout : Regular	02:00
	02:00	Lillard Substitution replaced by Price
	01:54	Barton Jump Shot: Missed Block: Davis (1 BLK)
	01:52	Aldridge Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	01:52 [POR 23-17]	Aldridge Putback Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Davis Jump Shot: Missed	01:27
	01:26	Batum Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	01:05	Aldridge Jump Shot: Missed
	01:04	Barton Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	01:02	Barton Layup Shot: Missed
Henry Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:00
Henry Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Aldridge (1 ST)	01:00
Henry Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	01:00
	01:00 [POR 24-17]	Aldridge Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)
Vasquez Substitution replaced by Roberts	01:00
Henry Substitution replaced by Rivers	01:00
	01:00 [POR 25-17]	Aldridge Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)
Roberts Layup Shot: Missed	00:36.9
Thomas Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	00:36.2
Thomas Putback Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)	00:36.2 [NOH 19-25]
	00:26.9	Batum 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:25.8	Barton Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
	00:23.9	Barton Layup Shot: Missed
Mason Jr. Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:21.9
Davis Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Batum (3 ST)	00:02.9
	00:00.2	Barton Driving Layup Shot: Missed
	00:00.0	Team Rebound
End of 1st Quarter
New Orleans Hornets (5-19)		Portland Trail Blazers (12-12)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:50	Lillard 3pt Shot: Missed
Mason Jr. Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	11:48
Rivers Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:30 [NOH 21-25]
Mason Jr. Foul: Personal (1 PF)	11:18
	11:09 [POR 27-21]	Babbitt Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Lillard (2 AST)
	10:49	Leonard Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Davis Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	10:49
Team Rebound	10:49
Mason Jr. Substitution replaced by Vasquez	10:49
Davis Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	10:49 [NOH 22-27]
	10:25	Price Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	10:25
Davis Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (2 TO)	10:11
	10:11	Barton Substitution replaced by Pavlovic
Vasquez Foul: Personal (1 PF)	09:59
	09:52 [POR 29-22]	Lillard Fadeaway Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)
	09:39	Leonard Foul: Personal (2 PF)
Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO)	09:32
	09:11	Pavlovic Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Missed
	09:10	Pavlovic Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	09:10 [POR 31-22]	Pavlovic Tip Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Lopez Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Pavlovic (1 ST)	08:53
Lopez Foul: Personal (1 PF)	08:51
	08:51
Roberts Substitution replaced by Aminu	08:51
	08:40 [POR 34-22]	Lillard 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Davis Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (5 AST)	08:19 [NOH 24-34]
	07:53	Babbitt 3pt Shot: Missed
Aminu Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:52
Davis Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (6 AST)	07:44 [NOH 26-34]
	07:27 [POR 36-26]	Pavlovic Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Lillard (3 AST)
Rivers Running Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)	07:08 [NOH 28-36]
	06:44	Babbitt 3pt Shot: Missed
Aminu Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	06:44
Rivers Jump Shot: Missed	06:20
Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	06:18
Aminu Jump Shot: Missed	06:18
Aminu Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	06:17
Lopez Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Aminu (1 AST)	06:15 [NOH 30-36]
	06:13	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:13	Lillard Substitution replaced by Batum
	06:13	Babbitt Substitution replaced by Hickson
	06:13	Leonard Substitution replaced by Aldridge
Aminu Substitution replaced by Anderson	06:13
Lopez Substitution replaced by McGuire	06:13
	06:03 [POR 38-30]	Hickson Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Batum (3 AST)
Vasquez Running Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Davis (1 AST)	05:43 [NOH 32-38]
	05:26	Batum Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:McGuire (1 ST)
Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal:Batum (4 ST)	05:13
	05:09 [POR 40-32]	Aldridge Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Batum (4 AST)
Anderson Jump Shot: Missed	04:46
	04:45	Hickson Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	04:35 [POR 43-32]	Batum 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Price (1 AST)
Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (7 AST)	04:07 [NOH 35-43]
	03:48	Aldridge Layup Shot: Missed
	03:46	Aldridge Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
	03:46	Aldridge Putback Layup Shot: Missed
	03:44	Aldridge Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)
	03:44 [POR 45-35]	Aldridge Tip Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Davis Jump Shot: Missed	03:27
	03:25	Pavlovic Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	03:13	Pavlovic Jump Shot: Missed
	03:11	Hickson Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	03:11 [POR 47-35]	Hickson Tip Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	03:04
Davis Substitution replaced by Lopez	03:04
	03:04	Price Substitution replaced by Lillard
Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Rivers (1 AST)	02:50 [NOH 38-47]
	02:26 [POR 49-38]	Aldridge Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Batum (5 AST)
Lopez Jump Shot: Missed	02:02
	02:00	Pavlovic Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	01:48 [POR 51-38]	Hickson Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Pavlovic (1 AST)
Rivers Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Batum (2 BLK)	01:35
Anderson Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	01:33
Vasquez Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)	01:28 [NOH 40-51]
	01:28	Lillard Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)
Rivers Substitution replaced by Mason Jr.	01:28
Vasquez Free Throw 1 of 1 (9 PTS)	01:28 [NOH 41-51]
	01:09	Lillard 3pt Shot: Missed
McGuire Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:07
Vasquez Running Layup Shot: Missed	00:55.9
	00:51.9	Pavlovic Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	00:42.9	Batum Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Anderson (1 ST)
	00:38.3	Lillard Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)
Vasquez Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)	00:38.3 [NOH 42-51]
	00:38.3	Lillard Substitution replaced by Price
Vasquez Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)	00:38.3 [NOH 43-51]
	00:22.9 [POR 54-43]	Batum 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Price (2 AST)
McGuire Jump Shot: Missed	00:01.9
Anderson Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)	00:01.0
Anderson Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	00:00.2
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 2nd Quarter
New Orleans Hornets (5-19)		Portland Trail Blazers (12-12)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:47	Aldridge Jump Shot: Missed
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	11:46
Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed	11:24
	11:23	Batum Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	11:03 [POR 57-43]	Claver 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Batum (6 AST)
Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Rivers (2 AST)	10:44 [NOH 46-57]
	10:20 [POR 59-46]	Hickson Fadeaway Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)
	10:03	Aldridge Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Anderson Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)	10:03 [NOH 47-59]
Anderson Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	10:03
	10:02	Hickson Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	09:45	Claver Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Lopez (1 AST)	09:28 [NOH 50-59]
	08:59	Batum 3pt Shot: Missed
Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	08:59
	08:49	Claver Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Rivers Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	08:49
Team Rebound	08:49
Rivers Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	08:49 [NOH 51-59]
	08:36	Hickson Layup Shot: Missed
	08:35	Hickson Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	08:35	Hickson Tip Shot: Missed
	08:33	Hickson Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)
	08:31 [POR 62-51]	Lillard 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Hickson (2 AST)
Lopez Alley Oop Layup shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (8 AST)	08:13 [NOH 53-62]
	07:53 [POR 64-53]	Hickson Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Batum (7 AST)
Rivers Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Missed Block: Batum (3 BLK)	07:40
	07:38	Hickson Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
Lopez Foul: Flagrant Type 1 (2 PF) (2 FTA)	07:29
	07:29 [POR 65-53]	Hickson Free Throw Flagrant 1 of 2 (15 PTS)
	07:29	Hickson Free Throw Flagrant 2 of 2 Missed
	07:29	Team Rebound
	07:15 [POR 67-53]	Aldridge Driving Dunk Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Claver (1 AST)
Anderson Layup Shot: Missed Block: Aldridge (1 BLK)	06:55
	06:53	Claver Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:43	Aldridge Layup Shot: Missed
Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	06:41
Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed	06:21
	06:20	Lillard Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	06:04	Lillard 3pt Shot: Missed
	06:03	Hickson Rebound (Off:4 Def:6)
Rivers Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)	05:49
	05:49	Team Timeout : Regular
Lopez Substitution replaced by Davis	05:49
Henry Substitution replaced by McGuire	05:49
	05:49	Claver Substitution replaced by Pavlovic
	05:49 [POR 68-53]	Hickson Free Throw 1 of 2 (16 PTS)
	05:49 [POR 69-53]	Hickson Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)
Anderson Step Back Jump shot: Made (18 PTS)	05:26 [NOH 55-69]
	05:11 [POR 71-55]	Hickson Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (19 PTS) Assist: Batum (8 AST)
Vasquez Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Missed Block: Lillard (1 BLK)	04:58
Team Rebound	04:57
McGuire Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Batum (5 ST)	04:56
	04:52	Hickson Turnover : Traveling (2 TO)
Vasquez Running Layup Shot: Missed	04:38
Anderson Rebound (Off:4 Def:0)	04:34
Vasquez 3pt Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Anderson (1 AST)	04:30 [NOH 58-71]
	04:07	Batum 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:07	Hickson Rebound (Off:5 Def:6)
	04:02 [POR 73-58]	Hickson Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (21 PTS)
Rivers Running Jump Shot: Missed	03:49
	03:49	Team Rebound
	03:31	Lillard 3pt Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	03:30
	03:30	Hickson Foul: Personal (1 PF)
	03:30	Hickson Substitution replaced by Babbitt
McGuire Jump Shot: Missed Block: Batum (4 BLK)	03:10
McGuire Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	03:08
McGuire Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	03:06 [NOH 60-73]
	02:48	Babbitt 3pt Shot: Missed
Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	02:46
Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (6 TO) Steal:Lillard (1 ST)	02:37
	02:33 [POR 75-60]	Aldridge Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Batum (9 AST)
	02:14	Pavlovic Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:14
Anderson Substitution replaced by Thomas	02:14
Rivers Substitution replaced by Mason Jr.	02:14
McGuire Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	02:14
Team Rebound	02:14
McGuire Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)	02:14 [NOH 61-75]
	01:53	Pavlovic Turnaround Fadeaway shot: Missed
McGuire Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	01:53
McGuire Driving Layup Shot: Missed	01:45
McGuire Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	01:42
McGuire Running Jump Shot: Missed	01:25
	01:24	Babbitt Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	01:01	Pavlovic 3pt Shot: Missed
Mason Jr. Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	00:59.9
	00:56.6	Lillard Substitution replaced by Price
McGuire Substitution replaced by Henry	00:56.6
Henry Jump Shot: Missed	00:38.9
Vasquez Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	00:37.9
Davis Jump Shot: Missed	00:31.8
	00:29.6	Batum Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	00:13.9	Aldridge Jump Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	00:10.8
Thomas Substitution replaced by Roberts	00:10.8
	00:03.4	Batum Foul: Flagrant Type 1 (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Davis Free Throw Flagrant 1 of 2 (10 PTS)	00:03.4 [NOH 62-75]
	00:03.4	Pavlovic Substitution replaced by Claver
Davis Free Throw Flagrant 2 of 2 (11 PTS)	00:03.4 [NOH 63-75]
Roberts Substitution replaced by Thomas	00:03.4
Henry Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Price (1 ST)	00:00.2
End of 3rd Quarter
New Orleans Hornets (5-19)		Portland Trail Blazers (12-12)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed	11:34
Thomas Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	11:33
Mason Jr. 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Thomas (1 AST)	11:28 [NOH 66-75]
	11:03 [POR 78-66]	Batum 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS)
Vasquez Jump Shot: Missed	10:44
Thomas Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)	10:42
Vasquez Running Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS)	10:34 [NOH 68-78]
	10:16 [POR 80-68]	Batum Driving Dunk Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Price (3 AST)
Vasquez 3pt Shot: Made (19 PTS) Assist: Thomas (2 AST)	09:54 [NOH 71-80]
	09:33	Claver 3pt Shot: Missed
Thomas Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)	09:32
Vasquez Running Jump Shot: Made (21 PTS)	09:19 [NOH 73-80]
	09:19	Team Timeout : Regular
	09:19	Claver Substitution replaced by Hickson
	09:19	Aldridge Substitution replaced by Lillard
Henry Substitution replaced by Anderson	09:19
	09:04 [POR 82-73]	Hickson Jump Shot: Made (23 PTS) Assist: Batum (10 AST)
Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed	08:39
	08:38	Hickson Rebound (Off:5 Def:7)
	08:21	Lillard Jump Shot: Missed
	08:20	Hickson Rebound (Off:6 Def:7)
	08:19	Hickson Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (3 TO)
Davis Hook Shot: Missed	07:56
Anderson Rebound (Off:5 Def:0)	07:56
Anderson Putback Layup Shot: Made (20 PTS)	07:55 [NOH 75-82]
	07:33 [POR 85-75]	Babbitt 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Hickson (3 AST)
Thomas Jump Shot: Missed	07:17
	07:14	Price Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:08	Batum 3pt Shot: Missed
Thomas Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)	07:06
Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (23 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (9 AST)	07:00 [NOH 78-85]
	06:42	Hickson Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO) Steal:Mason Jr. (1 ST)
Mason Jr. Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Batum (5 BLK)	06:39
	06:38	Team Rebound
Davis Foul: Personal (1 PF)	06:26
Mason Jr. Substitution replaced by Rivers	06:26
	06:14	Batum 3pt Shot: Missed
Anderson Rebound (Off:5 Def:1)	06:12
	06:08	Batum Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)
Davis Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)	06:08 [NOH 79-85]
Davis Free Throw 2 of 2 (13 PTS)	06:08 [NOH 80-85]
	05:48 [POR 87-80]	Price Pullup Jump shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Lillard (4 AST)
Anderson Jump Shot: Missed	05:23
Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	05:18
Davis Putback Dunk Shot: Made (15 PTS)	05:18 [NOH 82-87]
	04:58	Lillard Driving Layup Shot: Missed
	04:57	Hickson Rebound (Off:7 Def:7)
Thomas Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)	04:57
	04:57
	04:57	Price Substitution replaced by Aldridge
	04:57 [POR 88-82]	Hickson Free Throw 1 of 2 (24 PTS)
	04:57	Hickson Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	04:56
Davis Alley Oop Layup shot: Missed	04:42
	04:40	Hickson Rebound (Off:7 Def:8)
	04:31	Batum 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:29	Hickson Rebound (Off:8 Def:8)
	04:07	Lillard 3pt Shot: Missed
Vasquez Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)	04:07
Vasquez Driving Layup Shot: Made (23 PTS)	04:02 [NOH 84-88]
Anderson Foul: Personal (3 PF)	03:42
Davis Violation:Defensive Goaltending	03:30
	03:30 [POR 90-84]	Babbitt Driving Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (26 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (10 AST)	03:22 [NOH 87-90]
	03:02	Babbitt Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Anderson (2 ST)
Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed	02:41
	02:40	Babbitt Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	02:20	Aldridge Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Thomas Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)	02:20
Team Timeout : Regular	02:13
Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed	01:58
Thomas Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)	01:57
Thomas Putback Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)	01:57 [NOH 89-90]
	01:36	Hickson Layup Shot: Missed
Rivers Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:34
Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed	01:18
	01:17	Batum Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	01:04 [POR 92-89]	Aldridge Step Back Jump shot: Made (20 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	01:04
Thomas Substitution replaced by Mason Jr.	01:04
Rivers 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (11 AST)	00:50.9 [NOH 92-92]
	00:31.9	Lillard 3pt Shot: Missed
Vasquez Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)	00:29.9
	00:25.8	Batum Foul: Personal Take (3 PF)
Team Timeout : Short	00:25.8
	00:25.8	Aldridge Substitution replaced by Jeffries
Vasquez Driving Layup Shot: Missed	00:11.9
	00:11.5	Team Rebound
	00:11.5	Team Timeout : Short
Mason Jr. Substitution replaced by Thomas	00:11.5
Vasquez Foul: Personal Take (2 PF)	00:04.2
	00:04.2	Team Timeout : Regular
	00:04.2	Jeffries Substitution replaced by Barton
	00:00.3 [POR 95-92]	Lillard 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Babbitt (1 AST)
	00:00.3
Team Timeout : Short	00:00.3
	00:00.3	Babbitt Substitution replaced by Jeffries
	00:00.3	Barton Substitution replaced by Price
Thomas Alley Oop Layup shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Anderson (2 AST)	00:00.1 [NOH 94-95]
End of 4th Quarter