The last time the Portland Trail Blazers traveled to New Orleans, they played with zero natural point guards, zero traditional centers and just 10 healthy players.
The trip ended, unsurprisingly, with a lopsided 23-point defeat.
Oh, what a difference a New Year makes.
Deni Avdija had another dominant performance, Caleb Love continued his red-hot play and Donovan Clingan produced another double-double as the Blazers opened 2026 with a resounding 122-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Smoothie King Center.
After taking one on the chin on New Year’s Eve against the reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the Blazers (15-20) responded impressively and emphatically just two days later, earning their fifth double-digit victory of the season.
Avdija looked every bit like an All-Star during the onslaught, recording 34 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, while committing just two turnovers. With a mix of smooth three-pointers (3 for 5), impressive three-point plays, tough driving layups and pretty alley-oop lobs, Avdija put on a show.
It was the ninth time this season he’s reached 30 points, the 21st time he’s produced at least 20 points, five assists and five rebounds, and the third time in the last four games he’s reached double-figures in assists. And he did it all despite constant defensive pressure, which included blitzes and double teams throughout the second half.
“He creates so much gravity, so the whole defense is around him,” Blazers acting coach Tiago Splitter told reporters after the game, referring to Avdija. “So that allows Caleb shots, Toumani (Camara) shots, Shaedon (Sharpe) shots. It’s a big part of our team.”
Avdija’s sensational night started early, as he recorded 13 points and three assists in the first quarter, propping up the Blazers amid a sluggish start.
Portland opened the game with six consecutive misses, then went on to make just one field goal over the final 6:14 of the first quarter. The Pelicans seized a 37-29 lead amid all the bricks, and it looked like Rip City might be in for another rough night in the Big Easy.
But it was all Blazers the rest of the way.
Portland’s defense held New Orleans to 35% shooting over the next two quarters — which included an 0-for-14 effort from three-point range — and forced nine turnovers that resulted in 19 Blazers points. All the while, the Blazers’ offense erupted for 93 points and committed just four turnovers over the final three quarters, fueling a lead that surged to 22 points in the fourth quarter.
And while Avdija was the driving force, he had plenty of help.
Love, a rookie two-way guard who has carved out a role off the bench amid the Blazers’ myriad injuries, finished with 22 points. He made 7 of 13 shots, including 6 of 11 threes.
It was the sixth game in a row that Love has reached double-figures in scoring, during which he’s averaging 17.5 points and shooting 45.3% from three-point range.
Clingan, meanwhile, was a beast on both ends, recording 11 points and 15 rebounds while setting valuable screens on offense created space and freed up teammates for open looks. It was the sixth time in the last eight games the second-year center has finished with a double-double.
“He’s just growing as a basketball player, growing as a big,” Splitter told reporters after the game. “He’s getting used to playing high minutes and being effective.”
It not only helped the Blazers open 2026 on a winning note, but also erased the painful memories of their French Quarter faceplant last month, when New Orleans pummeled Portland 143-120 — and piled it on late.
“We remember them trying to do windmills and stuff on us at the end of the game,” Love told reporters in New Orleans. “And so we wanted to come here with a little extra edge on us. I think we came in here, we executed the game plan and we did what we had to.”
Next up
The Blazers play the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Frost Bank Center.
