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Game Day: Trail Blazers at Pelicans

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NEW ORLEANS - The return of Anthony Davis has sparked a pair of victories for the New Orleans Pelicans just in time for an anticipated rematch against Portland.

The Trail Blazers, who mounted a late comeback in the first meeting, will try to prevent the Pelicans from winning three straight games for the first time Saturday night.

After briefly being sidelined with a chest injury, Davis scored 31 points Tuesday in a 119-111 win over Utah before putting up 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks Thursday to lead New Orleans (13-12) over Houston 99-90.

"Right now it's all about maturity and growing up as a team and realizing this is a moment, this is where we have to start growing up and learning how to win games," Davis said. "I think we did a good job of that (Thursday)."

Davis also reached the 30-point mark in a 102-93 loss at Portland on Nov. 17, a game in which the Pelicans wasted a 16-point lead late in the third quarter. They were outscored by the Blazers 34-13 in the fourth.

INJURY REPORT

Portland: Nicolas Batum (right wrist and left knee contusion) is questionable. Robin Lopez (fractured right hand) is out.

New Orleans: Tyreke Evans (right knee contusion) is questionable. Eric Gordon (left shoulder subluxation) is out.

Enter To Win

In Portland's Last Game...

SAN ANTONIO — Not a bad way to start a road trip, at least if you don’t mind putting in a little extra work.

The Portland Trail Blazers went down by 11 in regulation, came back to force overtime, went down by six, came back to force another overtime, went down six again and forced ANOTHER overtime before pulling away in the third extension for a 129-119 victory versus the San Antonio Spurs Friday night at the AT&T Center.

“Both teams played very well, and they were both very competitive,” said Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. “It looked like we were dead in the water the first and second overtimes, but I was really proud of the way we kept competing. Obviously it helped that we made some great shots, but there was some trust and confidence involved. This was a big win for us. Probably our best win of the season.”

And undoubtedly one of the best games in the NBA this season, though there were indications in the first half that would have led some to assume otherwise, especially those who remembered Portland’s second-round playoff series versus San Antonio last season.