PORTLAND, Ore. -- Defense was the difference for the Trail Blazers.After struggling for the past half-dozen games, Portland had more of a complete effort in a 119-104 victory over New Orleans on Friday night. Damian Lillard scored 27 points and CJ McCollum added 24 to snap the Pelicans four-game winning streak.I think what we did on the defensive end allowed us to get out in transition and move the ball, and play at the pace that we wanted to be at. It worked in our favor, once we did it consistently, Lillard said.Lillard added 11 assists for the Blazers, who were coming off a 1-4 road trip. It was the 2,000th win in franchise history.Anthony Davis, who went into the game ranked second in the league with an average of 31.3 points a game, led the Pelicans with 31 points and 13 rebounds.The Blazers led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but the Pelicans closed to 105-101 on Terrance Jones dunk and Jrue Holidays jumper. Portland responded with an 8-0 run, capped by Maurice Harkless reverse layup that made it 113-101, and New Orleans couldnt catch up.Obviously its really gd to get a win, Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. Weve been struggling a little bit. I thought offensively we were pretty gd for most of the night. Defensively, after about two minutes into the second quarter, we were gd the last three quarters.The Pelicans have rebounded after an eight-game losing streak to start the season and were coming off a 117-96 victory at home over the Timberwolves. But the win was costly because New Orleans lost Dante Cunningham in the first half because of a non-displaced right proximal fibula fracture. He will miss four to six weeks.The four-game winning streak coincided with the return of Holiday, who missed the start of the season to care for his wife, Lauren Holiday, following the birth of their child and surgery to remove a tumor on the right side of his wifes brain. Lauren Holiday was a standout on the U.S. womens national soccer team for eight years until her retirement last year.Holiday finished with 16 points.Portland, coming off a 137-125 loss in Cleveland, led by eight points in the first quarter but New Orleans pulled in front by the second, taking a 38-32 lead on Holidays 3-pointer. Portland reclaimed a 47-43 lead on consecutive baskets from Jake Layman and McCollum.McCollum led all scorers in the first half with 19 points and the Blazers led 66-57.The Blazers went on an 8-0 run to open the third quarter, capped by McCollums 3-pointer that made it 74-57. Meyers Leonards dunk and Lillards long 3-pointer extended Portlands lead to 94-78.If youre going to be content to exchange baskets with this team youre probably going to struggle because theyre really gd offensively, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.TIP-INSPelicans: New Orleans players and coaches had Thanksgiving dinner at the family home of Jones, who grew up in Portland. His family was terrific to us, Gentry said. ... The Pelicans have four players on the injured/inactive list: Tyreke Evans (right knee), Quincy Pondexter (left knee), Cunningham (right leg) and Cheick Diallo (D-League assignment).Trail Blazers: It was Stotts birthday. ... There was no update on the status of Al-Farouq Aminu, who has a strained left calf. ... Mason Plumlee finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds. ... Portland has won 11 straight over the Pelicans at the Moda Center.SECOND CHANCESThe Blazers had 23 second-chance points compared to two for New Orleans, something that was a concern to Gentry: You give up 12 offensive rebounds and they get 23 second-chance points, he said, that means theyre scoring every time they get a rebounds and that puts way t much pressure on your offense.MILESTONESBesides his birthday, it was also Stotts 191st win as coach of the Blazers. He ranks fourth in franchise history behind Jack Ramsay (435), Rick Adelman (291) and Nate McMillan (266).Portland is the 15th NBA team to hit 2,000 wins.UP NEXTelicans: New Orleans visits the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.Trail Blazers: Portland hosts the Houston Rockets on Sunday.Wholesale Custom Rockies Shirts .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shtout as the St. Authentic Custom Rockies Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. http://www.customrockiesjersey.com/ . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Custom Todd Helton Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Rockies Jerseys China . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide.VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Members of the Toronto Raptors elected to interlock arms during the playing of both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems before their 97-93 preseason win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.There had been speculation over how each team might approach The Star-Spangled Banner, given the recent kneeling and fist protests inspired by San Francisco 49ers?quarterback?Colin Kaepernick, who said his actions were in response to racial injustice and fatal police shtings in the United States.While the Raptors locked arms throughout both anthems, the Warriors comported themselves traditionally, save for forward David West, who std roughly 2 feet behind the anthem line with his arms behind his back.On Monday, West told The Undefeateds Marc J. Spears of a possible anthem display: Protest is an individual thing. Its based on your own personal conviction. I dont think anybody should feel compelled one way or the other. Particularly, dont feel pressure to do it because other guys are doing it. Be personally convicted. Feel like if youre doing something, what youre doing is from you and not because its the popular thing to do.At Warriors media day, Golden State forward Draymond Green spoke at length on the subject of protest.I think its important to speak out because were human, Green said. There are a lot of changes that need to be made. Its not just the killing of black people -- thats obviously rough and crazy to me -- there are a lot of changes that need to be made in this country.While Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson all indicated they would stand for the anthem, they praised Kaepernicks approach. New Warrrior Kevin Durant said he was very proud of him.ddddddddddddBefore Saturdays game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked about his message to his team regarding the anthem and said, My message was that our organization supports our players and whatever they decide to do. I support them, but Id like for everybody to have a heads-up for each others sake because, obviously, its going to generate a lot of conversation if someone decides to make some kind of statement, whether its kneeling or a fist in the air, so I dont anticipate our guys will do anything based on our conversations -- mainly because our guys are more focused on the next step.?Weve talked a lot more about how we can help in our community, what can we do better as a group, and go from there.In response to a similar question, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said, Weve had some great conversations coming from the South, coming from segregation, segregated schls, and going through integration -- Ive experienced a lot of whats going on firsthand, and fortunately we talked and [dealt] with each other.Guys were real. Guys have sincere feelings, sincere thoughts, sincere things to talk about, and concerns. And thats what all this is to be about, to induce conversation, and thats what our players can do.No Dallas Mavericks or New Orleans Pelicans players displayed any form of protest before or during the national anthem of their preseason matchup in Bossier City, Louisiana, which was not broadcast on television.ESPNs Justin Verrier contributed to this report.? ' ' '