Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday carry Pelicans to 2-0 lead on road

Anthony Davis is an MVP candidate. Jrue Holiday should be in consideration for All-NBA. Those two were sensational on Tuesday — The Brow recorded 22 points plus 13 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, while Holiday recorded a game-high 33 points on 14-of-24 shooting and nine assists from the starting guard spot.

New Orleans has found themselves, and it has them up 2-0 with two road victories as they now head home. What?! This has only happened five times in the first round since 2005, but the Pelicans did it, mostly taking Portland’s two star guards out of the picture while dominating their superstars, too.

It was hard to say what the Pelicans would be after DeMarcus Cousins went down, but they’ve recommitted to a spread style with Davis roaming the middle. Holiday has been so damn good. They’ve found shooting in E’Twaun Moore and Darius Miller, and even Rajon Rondo can hit a spot-up shot. The Nikola Mirotic trade solidified this lineup.

The Pelicans just need to win two more, and they have at least three at home. What a team, and what a game this was.

This Rondo jumper was the dagger.

Jrue Holiday hits an enormous triple, and New Orleans might actually take this.

Huge threes back-and-forth from Mo Harkless and then Nikola Mirotic. This game is absolutely incredible.

Quick timeouts show how important this game (and this coming possession for New Orleans) is.

Portland has slowly inched back into the game, and a Damian Lillard four-point play briefly tied it up, only for Holiday to get back in his bag for a pull-up jumper in his eye.

This is such a good matchup, man.

Even Darius Miller is out here getting buckets, man.

More Jrue Holiday-Anthony Davis pick-and-roll, and the Pelicans are absolutely cooking right now.

And the lead seesaws back to New Orleans, and they are absolutely relentless. The Pelicans are wearing out the Holiday-Brow pick-and-roll, and for good reason. Holiday has been masterful inside, Davis can’t be left open, and both players have been quick to rotate the ball when Portland brings a third player.

Here’s a killer oop generated out of this.

Both teams added 10 points to theirP ledger in the final three minutes here. New Orleans got half of it from Rajon Rondo, who has truly turned into a capable spot-up shooter, someone who you have to at least match on the perimeter — he buried one with 3.7 seconds left. He has a game-high six assists so far, too.

This was a good follow from Anthony, too.

Still, Portland has a decent advantage. They obviously need this game, down 0-1 in the series with a road trip coming up next.

Al-Farouq Aminu just scored seven straight for Portland, who recovered from the slow start. Portland already has 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting from it’s bench, which is already almost more than Game 1.

Mo Harkless may just be a bench cog, but he’s a crucial one for the Portland Trail Blazers, especially against a Portland team that has several excellent wings. Here he is making himself felt.

Harkless didn’t play in the first game, but he’s much needed here.

Portland’s bench helped them surge back and tie the game, but a Jrue Holiday layup at the end of the frame pushed them back ahead. Holiday is so good — he has 12 points and two assists at the end of the frame. And LOOK AT THIS DUNK.

The Blazers still somewhat look out of sorts, in another strange start for them.

Once again, it’s a quick start for New Orleans, who used a couple long Anthony Davis jumpers and a E’Twaun Moore triple to vault ahead of Portland in what felt like an instant. The Blazers take a timeout.

It’s very red in the building, however.

The Portland Trail Blazers failed to cement a comeback, and became the only team to lose at home in Game 1, 97-95, to the New Orleans Pelicans. To no surprise, Anthony Davis was a big reason why. The Brow scored 35 points on 26 shots, and hauled down 14 rebounds in a dominant showing. He also had four blocks.

Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum were both flat to start the game, and it was costly for Portland. The two shot a miserable 13-of-41 on the night, finishing with just 37 combined points. That can’t happen for Portland again, no matter how excellent Jrue Holiday is on the defensive side.

Winning Game 2 could be a huge swing for New Orleans, which could go up 2-0 before coming home, even without DeMarcus Cousins. When Boogie tore his achilles, many wrote the Pelicans off. Davis’ late-season MVP push is making them reconsider.

Look for Lillard to go after it early on Tuesday night. There’s little chance he has consecutive poor showings in the playoffs.