(Sports Network) - The New Orleans Hornets have won three of their last four
and will try to keep the momentum going when they host the Portland Trail
Blazers.
The Hornets completed a three-game road trip 2-1 and defeated the Phoenix Suns
before they left on their trek. New Orleans' most recent victory came in
Detroit on Sunday, 105-86.
Eric Gordon sat out against the Pistons as it was the second of a back-to-
back, but Robin Lopez handled the scoring. Lopez netted 23 points and 10
rebounds on 9-for-13 shooting, but his head coach was impressed with his
defensive prowess.
"The way he played in the paint defensively was tremendous," Hornets head
coach Monty Williams said of Lopez.
Lopez, first-overall pick Anthony Davis and Al-Farouq Aminu, the starting
frontcourt for the Hornets, combined for eight blocks against a very
physically strong group of bigs for the Pistons.
Wednesday is the Hornets' last game before the break, then play seven of their
next nine in the Big Easy.
The Blazers are finishing a six-game road trip before the All-Star break.
LaMarcus Aldridge is headed to Houston for his second appearance in the All-
Star game, but things haven't gone well on this sojourn.
Portland is 1-4 after a Tuesday night loss in Miami to the defending champion
Heat. The lone victory on this trek came in the opener in Minnesota and the
Trail Blazers have dropped four in a row.
The Blazers hung tough with the Heat through three quarters, but Miami pulled
away in the fourth to win 117-104. It was an impressive performance in defeat,
especially coming after a terrible loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
"I like the way we came back after the way we played against the Orlando
Magic," said head coach Terry Stotts. "I think it showed some of our resolve
and some of our resiliency. It is disappointing to come up with a loss but we
lost to a great team."
It was a fantastic bounceback from presumptive Rookie of the Year, Damian
Lillard. After a four-point performance in Orlando, Lillard scored 33 points
in the loss to the Heat.
"I wasn't worried. He doesn't lose any confidence. I knew he would come back
strong tonight," said Aldridge, who had 29 Tuesday.
Portland couldn't stop the Heat on Tuesday. The Blazers allowed Miami to shoot
58 percent from the field and 42 percent from the 3-point arc. During this
road trip, the Blazers have surrendered 100 points or more in every game but
the Timberwolves victory. Minnesota had 98 on Feb. 4.
The Blazers won this season's only a matchup with New Orleans, a 95-94
decision in Portland on Dec. 16. Portland has won five in a row in this series
and is 5-2 in its last seven in New Orleans.
The Sports Network