Jerami Grant scores 28 and Blazers beat Pelicans 125-103 for first win of the season

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jerami Grant scored 28 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 125-103 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday for their first win of the season.

Anfernee Simons pitched in 27 points and six assists as the Blazers bounced back from a 105-103 loss to the Pelicans on Friday. Deandre Ayton finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.

CJ McCollum had 27 points to lead the Pelicans in the second of a two-game set against his former team.

After New Orleans opened the game with an 8-0 run, Portland stormed back and took a 59-47 lead into halftime. The Blazers extended the lead to as many as 24 in the second half.

Portland bullied the Pelicans on the glass, posting a 51-39 rebounding advantage and a 22-15 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Pelicans: Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson would once again have a slight minutes restriction after playing 29 minutes on Friday. “It will be close to about the same,” Green said. Williamson struggled from the field on Sunday, going 3 for 12.

Blazers: Deni Avdija went 5 for 21, including 1 for 8 from 3, in Portland's back-to-back games against New Orleans. “I got to run stuff for him and get some shots for him,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “But more than anything, we’re all just trying to get to know Deni and vice versa.” Avdija finished with 11 points.

Portland rookie Donovan Clingan blocked Williamson twice in the first half, part of the reason for Williamson's 2-for-9 shooting in the opening two quarters.

New Orleans was 1 for 13 (7.7%) from the 3-point line in the first half, while Portland was 8 for 22 (36.4%).

The Pelicans visit Golden State on Tuesday, while Portland is at Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, right, drives to the hoop against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, left, dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, left, defends against Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, left, dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, left, dives for the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

SEATTLE (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and the surging Buffalo Bills turned his first interception of the season into an afterthought, pummeling the Seattle Seahawks 31-10 on Sunday.

James Cook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns for the AFC East-leading Bills (6-2), who were in control throughout and won their third straight. Meanwhile, the Seahawks descended into chaos, with two defensive linemen throwing punches at each other on their own sideline.

Allen finished 24 of 34 for 283 yards. He ran his streak of passes without an interception to 300 before Josh Jobe picked him off in the second quarter. But Seattle (4-4) turned the ball over on downs after that pick, with quarterback Geno Smith stumbling after he took the snap on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

“That was huge,” Allen said. “I hate throwing turnovers, but I made the tackle. Coach talks about all the time if something like that happens, not to put your head down. Go make a tackle and let your defense come back on the field because you never know what’s going to happen.”

Allen responded by leading a 12-play, 93-yard drive that concluded with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid for a 14-3 lead.

Buffalo also went 90 yards on 14 plays after the opening kickoff, and Allen found Keon Coleman for a 2-yard TD to finish a drive that lasted 9:07.

The Bills became the first team to have two TD drives of 90 yards or more in a half since 2022, when Carolina did it against Detroit. Buffalo outgained Seattle 445 yards to 233 and held the ball for more than 38 minutes.

“We feel like every play we come out there and execute at a high level, I don’t think anybody really can stop us but ourselves,” Coleman said.

Smith went 21 of 29 for 212 yards and an interception for the Seahawks, who were largely inept on offense. They rushed for only 32 yards and scored their only touchdown in garbage time.

“That’s the result of good football team that outplayed us in three phases and then it gets out of hand when you’re doing the things we we did today,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “The long and short of it is we got outplayed, we got outcoached, and we've got to go make it right.”

Seattle had the ball at the Buffalo 2 with a chance to tie the game midway through the second quarter, but center Connor Williams sent a shotgun snap over Smith’s head that skittered past the 30. Kenneth Walker III recovered the fumble, but the Seahawks settled for Jason Myers' 38-yard field goal.

Jobe, elevated from the practice squad before the game, beat Amari Cooper to the ball on Allen's first pass of the next drive, and the cornerback picked it off at the Buffalo 40 and returned it to the 7. Allen's streak of 300 passes without an interception, including playoffs, was a franchise record.

A second mistake by Williams kept Seattle out of the end zone when he stepped on Smith's foot on the fourth-down play and the quarterback fell.

Derick Hall was flagged for a late hit on Allen that extended Buffalo's subsequent drive. Hall and teammates were shouting at each other and on the sidelines for the rest of the half. The Seahawks were called for three personal fouls in the game, including one by Smith.

Hall and fellow defensive lineman Jarran Reed exchanged punches on the sideline and had to be separated.

“He loves the game, I love the game, and in that moment I think things got heated,” Hall said. “But you know, he’s a leader. He’s the leader of our group. And when stuff hits the fan, you have to lean on those guys. And maybe we both could do something a little bit better.”

With Buffalo leading 17-3 in the third quarter, defensive end Casey Toohill pressured Smith, who was retreating to throw a screen pass. Smith tried to loft it over Toohill, but he tipped the ball, which bounced off Walker’s hands and into the arms of defensive lineman Austin Johnson.

Cook scored from 2 yards out to put Buffalo up 24-3 with 2:01 left in the third. He added a 7-yard scoring run early in the fourth to send Seattle to its fourth loss in five games.

Buffalo held Seattle to 1 yard rushing in the first half, the second-fewest rushing yards the Bills had given up in a half this century. The Bills held the Indianapolis Colts to minus-11 yards in a half in 2010. Walker had six carries for 5 yards in the first half.

Bills: WR Curtis Samuel (foot) was inactive.

Seahawks: WR DK Metcalf was inactive with a knee injury. ... LB Dre’Mont Jones left in the second half with a shoulder injury, but returned to the game.

Bills: Host Miami on Sunday.

Seahawks: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Buffalo Bills cornerback Cam Lewis (39) reacts after nearly intercepting a pass thrown by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) waves to fans after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. The Bills won 31-10. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) makes a catch over Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills defensive end Casey Toohill (99) celebrates after an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) rushes the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) has his helmet come off as Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)