see this year to move up for Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick. While Goff has been solid in his first three starts, he still hasnt won a game, putting the Rams back on the brink of elimination from postseason cont

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 good to get a win, Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. Weve been struggling a little bit. I thought offensively we were pretty good for most of the night. Defensively, after about two minutes into the second quarter, we were good 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 good 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 too 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 NEXT:Pelicans: New Orleans visits the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.Trail Blazers: Portland hosts the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Darrell Henderson Jersey . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Aaron Donald Youth Jersey . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. http://www.laramsfootballshops.com/taylor-rapp-jersey/ .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. David Long Youth Jersey . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Todd Gurley II Womens Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Although Jeff Fisher and Les Snead are both disappointed in the Los Angeles Rams performance during their five-year tenure, the coach and the general manager both insist those feelings arent personal.Fisher and Snead dismissed widespread speculation about the health of their partnership Friday, saying they work together closely and professionally. If theyre allowed to return for a sixth season, the Rams top two football men insist they can do it effectively.Honestly, I dont know where this came from, Fisher said. Les and I have been on the same page since Day One. We communicate all the time. We work together. We make some decisions together. ... Theres no issues between Les and I, by no means. We agree to disagree, and weve had a fun run. Were certainly disappointed in the outcome and where we are, and weve got work to do, but were doing it together.The Rams (4-8) have lost seven of their last eight games in their homecoming season, and they are all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs for the 12th straight year. Snead attributes any worries about organizational harmony to the stress of losing.(The) relationship is really good, Snead said. Weve worked together from the start, in every decision. Every decision thats made, especially from a personnel standpoint.Fisher and Snead both received contract extensions from the Rams earlier this season, but the organization didnt publicly announce either deal. That silence has led to speculation that owner Stan Kroenke could still clean house after the team finishes its 13th consecutive non-winning regular season, essentially treating the short extensions as performance bonuses for shepherding the Rams move from St. Louis back to California.Fisher then raised eyebrows earlier this week when he said he didnt know Sneads contract also had been extended, appearing to contradict both mens descriptions of a tight working relationship.Snead said Fishers lack of knowledge about his deal didnt even register as controversial when he heard about it, and he isnt thinking about his own job security or Fishers status. Booth men report directly to Kroenke, who insists they reach a consensus on any big decisions without a tiebreaker.dddddddddddd.I let those guys concentrate on football, Snead said of the coaches. I go do my role. I think from that standpoint, I didnt blow it out of proportion in any way at all. I was aware that we both were in the same boat, in terms of getting an extension. At that point in time, didnt know the details of each others (contracts). I didnt know his details, and vice versa.Snead went into detailed praise of Fishers ability to produce a competent team over the previous four seasons, including what the GM called a 48-game stretch with No. 2 quarterbacks. The Rams repeatedly tried and failed to find a standout starting quarterback over the previous four years while using the likes of Kellen Clemens, Shaun Hill, Austin Davis, Nick Foles and Case Keenum, who started the first nine games this season.I do think that did stunt the passing game and what you can do, and what the coaches can do with it, Snead acknowledged.Fisher and Snead traded a large chunk of the Rams future to Tennessee this year to move up for Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick. While Goff has been solid in his first three starts, he still hasnt won a game, putting the Rams back on the brink of elimination from postseason contention.A strong finish would improve the chances for Fisher and Snead to stick around for another year, just as a 3-1 finish last season got the Rams to 7-9. Snead realizes he can only carry on with planning for the future -- which doesnt include a potentially high first-round pick next year, thanks to the trade for Goff.I think all of those decisions should and always be put off to the end of the season, Snead said of his future. Ive got a job to do, a role to do, a staff to (lead), to get us where we want to be, and thats how you have to work in this league. Thats your focus.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '