(REUTERS)-The New Orleans Hornets remained the only undefeated team in the NBA after a dominant 107-87 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. The Hornets improved their franchise record best start to 8-0 off the back of a supreme defense, who have yet to concede 100 points in a game this season.
“It’s the defense every night,” said Hornets forward Trevor Ariza.
“It’s been the key for us. We’re all supposed to be one unit and that’s what we try to display out there on the defensive end.”
David West and Marco Belinelli each claimed 18 points as seven Hornets were in double digits for scoring.
Chris Paul added 11 points and 13 assists and Emeka Okafor had a double-double before the end of the third quarter, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“Everybody contributed tonight. The starters did great. The bench did great. The coaching staff did a great job of preparing us,” said Okafor. “It was an all-around great effort.”
The Trail Blazers were behind 48-35 at halftime, cut the lead to just six points in the third quarter before the Hornets regained momentum.
Nicolas Batum rebounded from a scoreless first half to lead Portland (6-5) with 16 points and Andre Miller and Wesley Matthews scored 14 points each.
A bad night for the Trail Blazers was capped when All-Star guard Brandon Roy limped off the court with 6:43 left in the third quarter with a left knee injury after scoring just two points.
“He told me his knee was sore, and he needed to be pulled,” said Trail Blazers coach Nate MacMillan. “He’ll be evaluated here and we’ll wait and see what happens.”