Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers (left) shoots for the basket under pressure from Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA game between the teams in Portland, Oregon on March 1, 2023 (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 40 points as the New Orleans Pelicans beat Portland 121-110 on Wednesday in the first meeting between Damian Lillard and his former Trail Blazers teammate CJ McCollum.

McCollum added 24 points to help the Pelicans clinch a four-game skid.

Lillard finished with 41 points for the Blazers. He raised both fists as he lay on the hardwood after making a tough field goal in the third quarter and hit a free throw that put Portland ahead 85-80.

The Trail Blazers reached the end of the quarter with a slim one-point 91-90 lead. But two consecutive baskets from Ingram put New Orleans ahead 108-99 midway through the fourth quarter. Naji Marshall had a lay-up that went the distance as Portland lost on goal-

Ingram’s layup with 2:55 to go put the Pelicans ahead 114-101 and all but sealed the win.

It was the first time Lillard and McCollum had seen each other in nearly nine years together in Porland, following McCollum’s trade to New Orleans last season.

The Blazers and Pelicans are among the teams battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. New Orleans is 10th in the standings, half a game ahead of Portland.

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