NEW ORLEANS – The Smoothie King Center was smoking, but not nearly as much as the Pelicans in the first quarter.
The red-hot Pelicans took a commanding 3-0 lead over Portland Thursday night, winning the game 119 to 102.
New Orleans shot a scorching 62 percent from the field, taking an early 16-point lead en route to a win and a commanding 3-0 lead in the first round series with Portland.Game four will be Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the Smoothie King Center.
VIDEO: Mouton says red-hot Pelicans are torching Blazers
Nikola Mirotic led the Pelicans with 30 points, Anthony Davis added 28 and the two were a red hot 23-33 from the field combined. Playoff Rondo had 16 points 11 assists and 5 boards while Jrue Holiday added 16 more.
"We're very confident in every shot we take," said Davis. "No matter who takes it."
The Pelicans roared out to an early lead with Nikola Mirotic scoring 21 points in the first half on 8-of-10 shooting and 3-of-4 from the three-point line. The lead was 16 after one quarter, 19 at the half, 21 after 3 and despite a couple of spirited runs by the Blazers, never got closer than double digits after that.
The Pelicans, perhaps hyped by the raucous crowd, were tenacious on defense, swarming the Blazers and forcing 12 first half turnovers, while giving up only four.
"It was great," said Gentry of the sellout crowd. "It helps when the crowd is into it like that."
"It was amazing with this crowd," said Mirotic. "It helped us with the energy. Hopefully they can be even better next game.
In addition four players had double figures by the half and the team played well even when Anthony Davis took breaks, something that couldn’t always be said of this team in the past.
"We have a lot of weapons," said Davis. "We trust each other, we're playing the right way on offense and guys are moving the basketball."
The large crowd was treated to a masterful game. Davis hit on a variety of acrobatic dunks flung from just over half court it seemed, by Rondo and Holiday. Mirotic hit several from beyond the arc, but also had a couple of reverse layups and was a threat both inside and out - and Rondo was hustling on defense and the conductor of the offense. Jrue Holiday didn't match his offensive output of the first two games, but he again frustrated Damian Lillard of the Blazers.
The Pelicans needed 4 things in the playoffs - 1/Playoff Rondo - check, 2/AD to be AD - check, 3/Jrue to show he was special - check, and 4/Someone to bring the offense other than the 3 guys first mentioned - check.
The Pels weren't supposed to be in this position. Right now, they are as hot as anyone in the playoffs. They still aren't deep and there are better teams to face if they keep winning, but for the first time since Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler and company ran the floor when the franchise had another last name, there is optimism that things are looking up for this franchise.