The Portland Trail Blazers were one of three new teams to join the NBA for the 1970–71 season. The franchise played its inaugural regular season game on a Friday night in Portland, beating the fellow expansion Cleveland Cavaliers 115–112 on October 16, with 4,273 in attendance. The Trail Blazers played a regular season home game at McArthur Court in Eugene, Oregon on February 19, 1971 against the Cincinnati Royals. Portland was defeated by Cincinnati, 102–109.