PORTLAND, Ore., March 30 (UPI) -- Back-to-back 3-pointers down the stretch Thursday by Raymond Felton and Nicolas Batum lifted Portland to a 99-93 victory over New Orleans.
The Hornets were in position to record back-to-back wins for the first time in five weeks, having closed within a point on Carl Landry's free throw with 2:31 to play. Felton then hit his 3-pointer to boost the Trail Blazers' lead to four points and Batum's long-range shot put Portland in front by seven with 58 seconds remaining.
LaMarcus Aldridge led six Portland players in double figures, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Wesley Matthews added 18 points and Luke Babbitt had 16.
Batum contributed 14 points and Felton had 12 to go with 10 assists.
Marco Belinelli led New Orleans with 27 points. The Hornets made 20-of-21 free throws, but the Trail Blazers shot 48 percent from the field and hit 12-of-28 from 3-point range.
