The Portland Trail Blazers looked much closer to being the team they aim to be on Friday night than they did in the season opener against the Golden State Warriors.

After an embarrassing 36-point loss to the Warriors, 140-104, the Blazers were ready to put this victory behind them. Although they ultimately lost to the New Orleans Pelicans, 105-103, the game revealed a much more competitive side to Portland; This was a sight that hurt the eyes.

One of the major areas of improvement has been numbers in the painted area; While the Blazers only scored 30 points against the Pelicans, they also scored 34 points of their own. They played tough, physical interior defense and the game was tight from start to finish. As the clock ticked down, the Blazers turned to their best player, Jerami Grant, who had an outstanding performance.

Grant recorded 34 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks in 40 minutes. He was aggressive from behind the arc, attempting 17 three-pointers and scoring eight points, showing he could take over the game.

Grant’s performance underscores his value as Portland’s top scorer even as trade rumors swirl around him. Although he is not part of the team’s long-term plans, his presence currently provides stability and a competitive advantage.

But the Blazers’ young core, led by guard Scoot Henderson, very much represents the future of this team. Henderson gave one of his most complete performances on Friday; He recorded 15 points, six assists and three steals in 29 minutes off the bench. The second-year guard showed better balance, shooting 77.8% from the field and 33% from 3-point range.

“He’s just learning to finish in different ways,” Billups said. in question. “But when he attacks the basket hard like he did tonight, even some of the (bigger centers) are in trouble because they never want to foul.”

Grant also added that he enjoyed Henderson’s strong outing.

“It’s getting better and better,” Grant added. “I think the more games he gets, the better he’ll get. He’ll figure out his speed, the speed that works. … He figured that out tonight. Hopefully he can continue to recreate that in the future.”

If Henderson can maintain this trajectory, he and Portland’s other promising young players could lead the team in the right direction for years to come.

Although Friday’s game did not result in a victory, the Blazers proved that they will fight every game, refusing to be a guaranteed victory for their opponents.

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