The skid has been halted.
The New Orleans Pelicans drilled the Portland Trailblazers 143-120 at Smoothie King Center to end a seven-game losing streak Thursday night.
Jordan Poole returned for the first time in a month and gave the team a lift, scoring 22 points off the bench. Poole missed 18 games with a quadriceps injury. He was one of six Pelicans to score double figures.
Trey Murphy led the way with 24 points while Bryce McGowens was a star, scoring a career-high 23 points, including sinking all five 3-point attempts. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points and Derek Queen scored 17 points.
A competitive game through three quarters, the Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Blazers 38-23 for the win.
New Orleans shot 52 percent from the field and made 15 of 17 free throw attempts.
The Pelicans crushed Portland 57-41 on the boards and destroyed the Blazers in the paint, outscoring Portland 88-62.
The win was just the second for Interim head coach James Borrego, who took over for Willie Green in mid-November.
Herb Jones was ejected just before halftime after arguing a foul. He was assessed two technical fouls.
Now 4-22, the Pelicans visit Chicago on Sunday.