McCollum torches Pelicans for career-high 37 points in Blazers' victory
The New Orleans Pelicans continue to let guards get whatever they want on offense early in the game to start the 2015-16 regular season.
The team's suspect defense from Tuesday evening in a loss to the Golden State Warriors carried over Wednesday, with Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard C.J. McCollum lighting Alvin Gentry's squad up for 22 points in the first quarter.
Warriors point guard and reigning league MVP Stephen Curry dropped 24 points, including four 3-pointers in the first quarter of a 111-95 victory at Oracle Arena on Tuesday.
(Courtesy: NBA Stats)
The Lehigh alumnus ended the game with a career-high 37 points, the most by a Blazers player in an opener since Kiki Vandeweghe scored 47 in 1984, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Dennis Scott and Danilo Gallinari share the NBA record for most 3-pointers made during an opening-night game with seven. McCollum - who surpassed the 20-point mark only three times in 2014-15 - nearly missed out on breaking the record, finishing with six on the night.
Following these early-season performances, it's safe to assume a number of NBA guards will be circling dates against the Pelicans on their schedule, savoring the opportunity to get their fair share of buckets against a backcourt ravaged by injuries.
Tyreke Evans will miss the next six-to-eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery, while Jrue Holiday works under a strict minutes restriction.