Category: Pelicans

Pelicans vs. Clippers Recap: The good, the bad and the Ball

A strong fourth quarter from Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams proved to be enough for the Clippers to earn a 133-130 win over the Pelicans.

A strong fourth quarter from Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams proved to be enough for the Clippers to earn a 133-130 win over the Pelicans.

The Good: Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is really good at basketball. Who knew! He was unguardable for long stretches of the game, finishing with 39 points, six assists, six rebounds and five steals. It’s the first time this season a player has finished with at least 39-5-5-5. Sometimes, you just have to tip your hat to a better player.

Honorable mentions: Lou Williams, Derrick Favors

The Bad: Turnovers

The Pelicans have had the problem over and over and over again this season. On Saturday, they finished with 21 turnovers and allowed the Clippers to score 24 points off those. It has been an Achilles heel and continues to be so.

For a team needing to string together wins against playoff teams to keep their own playoff hopes alive, it’s a situation that must be fixed moving forward.

Honorable mentions: JJ Redick’s game-tying attempt, the refs

The Ball: A non-retroactive triple-double

For the first time in a while, Lonzo Ball finished with a triple-double on game day. Ball was huge in the first quarter, scoring 10 points and getting the Pelicans off to a strong start. Not surprisingly, his scoring cooled off as the game progressed but he still finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Late in the game, he also came up with some big defensive stops on Kawhi Leonard after being switched onto the Clipper superstar. Most importantly, though, was Ball getting revenge on Patrick Beverley with a score and a taunt in that first quarter.

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Pelicans vs. Clippers Preview: Inching up the Western Conference standings

The New Orleans Pelicans have another chance to move up the Western Conference standings on Saturday at home against the Clippers.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Clippers

When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 3:30 p.m ET

Where: Smoothie King Center

How to watch: ABC

For the first time since the 13-game losing streak earlier this season, the Pelicans are not in 14th position in the Western Conference. After Thursday’s win over Utah, the Pelicans moved ahead of the Timberwolves and Kings in the standings while still holding firm at four games back of the Grizzlies for the eighth seed.

But New Orleans’ task in moving forward up the standings will be a daunting one on Saturday. In the season’s first Saturday afternoon game, the Clippers visit the Smoothie King Center. An interesting side, L.A.’s second-best team this season are elite with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, to no one’s surprise. But the two have hardly been available simultaneously as fluid movement of active players has shuffled the deck repeatedly for the Clippers.

George has missed time recently but has traveled with the Clippers to New Orleans. Should he be available, the Pelicans will have a very real problem in defending the two wings, particularly with Jrue Holiday still out.

But Brandon Ingram figures to create problems for the Clippers as well. His 49-point explosion on Thursday further put him on the radar this season as he mounts a growing All-Star resume. A match-up with Leonard on national television figures to be another big opportunity for the blossoming wing.

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Lonzo Ball tweets support of Brandon Ingram following 49-point game

After a huge performance from Brandon Ingram in an overtime win over the Jazz, Lonzo Ball couldn’t contain his excitement.

After a career-best performance from Brandon Ingram on the night, Lonzo Ball could hardly hold his excitement.

Ingram scored 49 points against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night, leading the Pelicans to an overtime victory. His pull-up jumper with two-tenths of a second in regulation looked to be a game-winner before a foul call on the ensuing in-bound eventually extended the game to overtime.

In the extra session, Ingram continued dominating, eventually setting a new career-high and leading the team to a victory. After the game, Ball wasted little time showing his support for his teammate. Mere minutes after the final buzzer, Ball tweeted out his support of Ingram while calling him an All-Star.

After Thursday’s performance, Ingram is now averaging 25.7 points per game, the 10th-best mark in the league just ahead of LeBron James in 11th.

On Thursday afternoon, the latest All-Star fan vote totals were released. Ingram came in at ninth in Western Conference frontcourt voting, just ahead of Lakers center Dwight Howard and just behind Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Fan voting ends on Jan. 20 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Pelicans vs. Jazz Recap: The good, the bad and the Ball

The New Orleans Pelicans outlasted the Utah Jazz in overtime, 138-132, thanks to 49 points from Brandon Ingram in a career night.

The Pelicans outlasted the Utah Jazz and the referees again on Thursday, earning a 138-132 win with Brandon Ingram scoring a career-high 49 points.

The Good: Brandon Ingram vs. Donovan Mitchell

Fans were treated to one heck of a duel between two young stars on Thursday. Brandon Ingram set a career-high, the second time he’s done so this season, with 49 points. Donovan Mitchell matched him shot for shot the entire night, also finishing with 46.

The two traded baskets for much of the fourth quarter and overtime. After Mitchell hit seemingly every shot in the middle stages of the fourth quarter, Ingram took over down the stretch. His pull-up jumper with two-tenths of a second looked to be the game-winner. Instead, the game went to overtime (more on that later) and it just allowed Ingram to keep cooking. It was the finest performance yet in his breakout season.

It was one of the best Pelican games of the season. It was one of the best Pelican games in years.

Honorable mentions: Derrick Favors-Ingram two-man game, E’Twaun Moore’s clutch steal and score, Nickeil Walker-Alexander

The Bad: The referees

Another game against the Jazz, another terrible referee decision that decides the outcome of the game. After Ingram appeared to hit the game-winner with two-tenths of a second left on the clock, the Jazz were gifted a soft foul call at best.

Instead of a huge win from the Pelicans, the game went to overtime. The Pelicans hung on for the win but it was yet another growing example of the league getting it wrong and the Pelicans being the victim as a result.

Honorable mentions: Defense on Donovan Mitchell

The Ball: Poor shooting but impactful

Lonzo Ball struggled again shooting the ball on Thursday, going 2-for-12 from the field and 1-for-5 from three-point territory. But his impact was felt in other ways on the night. He finished with 13 assists, seven of those coming in little more than a period to open the night.

Defensively, Ball made some big plays down the stretch of regulation. With Donovan Mitchell sizzling, Ball took the assignment of defending him down the stretch. In the two possessions prior to the terrible in-bound foul call, Ball forced contested misses to give the Pelicans a chance at cutting into the deficit and then to take the lead.

Lonzo Ball credits Nicolo Melli, Jahlil Okafor for win in Detroit

Down four starters, the New Orleans Pelicans turned to a host of players on Monday that had found themselves shuffled out of the rotation in recent weeks. Most notably, Jahlil Okafor and Nicolo Melli moved into the starting lineup and made positive …

Down four starters, the New Orleans Pelicans turned to a host of players on Monday that had found themselves shuffled out of the rotation in recent weeks. Most notably, Jahlil Okafor and Nicolo Melli moved into the starting lineup and made positive impacts and were key pieces in the victory.

After the game, Ball talked about the contributions the Pelicans got from not just Melli and Okafor but multiple other players off the bench.

“This is a long season we play. Guys have to step up at any given time and that’s what happened tonight.

“When their name was called, I think you saw tonight people stepped up and they were comfortable. Nobody was out there playing scared or anything. They came in even if they haven’t been playing too much lately…and played big minutes for us.”

Okafor set the tone early on the night, scoring early and often in the paint against one of the best traditional big men in the league in Andre Drummond. Okafor had 11 points in the first quarter and eventually tallied 23 points and 11 rebounds through the opening three periods.

As impressive, though, was the work Okafor did on the other end as Drummond shot just 5-of-14 from the field with 10 points and 11 rebounds through the first three periods. Okafor’s play was so effective that Drummond did not play in the fourth quarter or overtime.

Ball noted the importance of Okafor getting the Pelicans off to a fast and strong start on the night.

Anytime we can just throw the ball in and get two points, we’re going to take that. Jah set the tone getting in the paint early for us and scoring easy buckets so we just kept going to him.

While Okafor was the primary focus on offense, Melli was as important on the night. The forward scored 16 points through the opening three quarters and scored twice in the extra session, including the dagger on a turnaround fadeaway.

He was very confident today, especially that last shot he hit. I thought he was going to catch and shoot it but he did the Kobe fade. He played great tonight.

On a night when their depth was tested, the Pelicans answered the bell and came away with a huge win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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Pelicans vs. Pistons Recap: The good, the bad and the Ball

Vastly undermanned, the New Orleans Pelicans hung on to force overtime in Detroit on Monday before controlling the extra session to win 117-110 over the Pistons.

Vastly undermanned, the New Orleans Pelicans hung on to force overtime in Detroit on Monday before controlling the extra session to win 117-110 over the Pistons.

The Good: Overtime

There’s a lot of things that could be the good takeaway tonight but it’s the overtime session that takes the cake. After collapsing in the fourth quarter, seeing its lead crumble and managing just 13 points total. Fortunately, Derrick Rose’s game-winner at the end of regulation bounced long and the sides went to overtime.

And after its putrid offensive showing in the fourth, the Pelicans scored 15 points in the overtime to close out a huge road win. Nicolo Melli made some big plays and hit some big shots as did Lonzo Ball. In the end, that was enough to earn the victory.

Honorable Mentions: Jahlil Okafor, Frank Jackson, Melli’s overtime

The Bad: Turnovers

On top of the fourth quarter being horrible, the Pistons were largely only in the game due to miscues by the Pelicans. New Orleans finished with 19 turnovers that Detroit turned into 29 points, outscoring the Pelicans by 19 points in points off turnovers.

Turnovers have been a problem throughout the year. On Monday, it was a little more explanatory with so many players in unfamiliar positions but doesn’t make it any more acceptable.

The Ball: Inefficient but important

A look at the stat line would show a largely inefficient night for Ball. Despite again flirting with his second triple-double of the day with 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, Ball shot just 7-of-23 from the field and turned the ball over seven times.

However, like the rest of his teammates, Ball was in a different role than normal. As the lone regular starter on the night, Ball was leaned upon more heavily than normal. But he came up with some big plays down the stretch and did enough to help the Pelicans to the win which is all that matters at the end of the day.

Pelicans vs. Pistons Preview: Bouncing back from a blowout

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons with a chance to get back into the playoff race in the Western Conference.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs Detroit Pistons

When: Monday, Jan. 13, 7:00 p.m ET

Where: Smoothie King Center

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans

After being blown out on the road on Saturday, the New Orleans Pelicans end their road trip on Monday with a chance for a bounceback win in Detroit. The Pistons are a side plummeting quickly, having won just three of their last 14 games.

As the Pelicans continue to battle back into the playoff race, the good news is that the rest of the bottom of the Western Conference has done nothing to separate itself. New Orleans remains four games back of the eighth seed.

In Detroit, the Pelicans have another opportunity to take a step back into the playoff race again. In the last meeting between the two sides, a Derrick Rose jumper late was the difference. But since that game, Detroit has ranked last in the league in defensive effective field goal percentage, per Cleaning the Glass. Likewise, the team is last in the defensive rating since that game and 29th in net rating.

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Jaxson Hayes’ development adds to Pelicans’ bright future

Jaxson Hayes has provided the New Orleans Pelicans with a big boost after recent strong games against the Knicks and Bulls.

Seen as more of a long-term prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft, Jaxson Hayes’ production this season has been an added bonus for New Orleans this season. After a rocky opening handful of months this season, Hayes has strung together a handful of strong performances in recent contests, including his first career double-double against Chicago on Wednesday.

He followed that up by notching a double-double against the Knicks two nights later, then scored a career-high 20 points in a loss to Boston on Saturday.

During shootaround for Friday’s game in Madison Square Garden, Lonzo Ball talked about Hayes’ development this season.

“He always plays hard. For him, it’s more about playing smart. I think that it’s hard for guys to finish over him on the defensive end. And on offense, obviously the pick and roll and offensive rebounding helps us a lot. For him, it’s just staying in the gym and playing smart.”

One of the biggest changes in recent games has been Hayes’ defensive play. While it’s still a work in progress, Hayes’ defensive rating of 114.1 in the last four games ranks third on the team among regular rotation players. On the season, Hayes is averaging 1.2 blocks per game. As Ball also noted, his physical capabilities help him impact both ends of the court.

“As tall as he is, as high as he can jump, he can help us on both ends of the court. Everybody tells him that all the time. It’s just about him doing it now.

“This is his first year. He’s only 19 so he’s got a lot to learn. But he picks it up fast and I think the sky’s the limit for him.”

Hayes’ play this season accelerates the timeline of the Pelicans’ rebuild. With him being a contributing member of the young core so quickly, the Pelicans have yet another asset to either move forward with or use to land a superstar via trade in the near future.

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Pelicans vs. Celtics Recap: The good, the bad and the Ball

Without five players, the New Orleans Pelicans never found their rhythm in Saturday’s loss to the Boston Celtics, 140-105.

On the second night of a back-to-back and without five players, the Pelicans never found their rhythm in Saturday’s game against Boston and were blown out by a big night from Jayson Tatum, 140-105.

The Good: Frank Jackson

While tempting to write “nothing” in this section, it’d be unfair to Frank Jackson who actually had a career night in the loss. And his scoring didn’t come in garbage time as he poured in 14 points in the first half (though the argument could be made the entire game was garbage time).

Honorable mention: Jayson Tatum

The Bad: Literally everything else

The less said about this game, the better

The Ball: Nearly a triple-double

By looking at the box score, Lonzo Ball technically almost had a triple-double. But he didn’t bring the same aggressiveness or assertiveness that he had in his recent stretch of strong play. So, while he finished the evening with 10 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, it wasn’t nearly as impactful as other nights when he didn’t flirt with a triple-double.

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Pelicans vs. Celtics Preview: Q&A with CelticsWire

Amid a run against non-playoff teams, the Pelicans take a trip to the northeast against one of the league’s best teams in the Celtics.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Boston Celtics

When: Saturday, Jan. 11, 7:00 p.m ET

Where: TD Garden

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans

In lieu of a more typical preview, we instead took the chance to talk to CelticsWire’s Justin Quinn about Boston’s season, how they match-up to Lonzo Ball and how the two teams compare with one another.

LonzoWire: Can you give me an overview of the Celtics’ season so far?

Justin Quinn: The Boston Celtics started out much stronger than most anticipated, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, in particular, showing jumps in development crystallized into a cohesive unit by new arrival Kemba Walker’s leadership. Gordon Hayward looking much better was also a significant factor in the excellent start.

There’s been a bit of a stumble since as the malaise of midseason, the law of averages, a busy schedule, injury and illness have combined to slow Boston down to a good team with some structural concerns still in need of attention if the team really plans to compete for a championship come spring.

LW: How do the Celtics match-up against Lonzo Ball? Who do you see as the primary defenders on him?

JQ: Very well with so many long, rangy defenders. Even though Ball will likely be handling the rock for the Pels, they won’t be expecting Walker to guard him much. That honor will probably fall on Jaylen Brown on defense, with Walker covering Jrue Holiday. We could also see help from Tatum and Hayward.

New Orleans may not have the talent advantage, but they also don’t present a natural cover for Walker, so we may see a bit more Marcus Smart minutes than usual as a result.

LW: How do the Celtics win Thursday’s matchup? How does New Orleans win?

JQ: Boston will win if they can use the ball-movement, switchy style of play that drove their early-season success. It’s really hard to guard them when they communicate and circulate the ball — sooner or later it generates open looks all of their starters are capable of nailing. They’ve been playing with a general lack of urgency of late though that teams have been able to capitalize on, especially earlier in games.

To that point, if New Orleans can come out and hit the Celtics hard in the mouth, building a double-digit lead early, it has a better than good chance of winning based on what we’ve seen from Boston over its last three games. Play hard, execute well, and keep heads up when you miss, getting back on defense.

Boston should be hungry for a win, though, so those first few minutes may well decide the game.

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