The Hornets' three-game road trip was a success even though it concluded on a down note.
After winning at Los Angeles against the Clippers on Monday and again at Denver on Thursday, the Hornets concluded the trip with a 101-86 defeat Friday at Portland. "We knew coming on this road trip if you could win two out of three, it would be a very good road trip," coach Byron Scott said. "We knew Denver and Portland would be very tough and the Clippers are struggling and would come out and play hard."
The Hornets (9-6) had won four in a row before the loss Friday. They will get a bit of a breather with just two games in the next nine days, beginning with their home game against the Suns on Wednesday.
TRAIL BLAZERS 101, HORNETS 86: Brandon Roy had 25 points and 10 assists to lead the Blazers as they improved to 7-0 at home.
The Hornets, who trailed by as many as nine points during the first half, started strongly in the third quarter, taking a 69-65 lead. But the Blazers (11-6) then went on a 17-0 run to take an 82-69 lead and win their fifth straight against the Hornets at home.
The Blazers evened the season series at one game apiece. New Orleans won the teams' first meeting, 87-82, on Nov. 14 at the New Orleans Arena.
