Category: Pelicans

Pelicans vs. Blazers Preview: How low will New Orleans go?

After another frustrating loss to Golden State on Friday, the Pelicans will look to avoid another lengthy losing streak at Portland.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers

When: Monday, Dec. 23, 10:00 p.m ET

Where: Moda Center

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans, NBA TV

New Orleans headed into Golden State on Friday with a chance to potentially turn the tide on its season. After beating a reeling Timberwolves side, a trip to face the league-worst Warriors set up the Pelicans for a winning streak.

Instead, New Orleans bottomed out on the year. A 20-point comeback was entirely undone in the fourth when the Pelicans collapsed down the stretch and were outdone by D’Angelo Russell in the final minute.

Now, the team heads to Portland for a tougher task than any stop yet on their current road trip, facing one of the league’s best backcourts in Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and the Trail Blazers. Portland has the 10th-best offensive rating in the league and while the defense can be porous at times, they’re a side set up to potentially handle the Pelicans.

Carmelo Anthony will present New Orleans another potential problem. After a slightly rocky stretch in his first games of the season, Anthony has rounded more into form and is averaging 16.0 points per game on 41.7% shooting from three-point territory.

Between Anthony, Lillard and McCollum, it could be a long night yet again for a consistently struggling Pelicans defense.

[lawrence-related id=19047,19041,18966]

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

The Pelicans returned to their losing ways on Friday, squandering a late lead in Golden State to fall to the Warriors, 106-102.

After falling behind by as many as 20 points in the first half on Friday, the New Orleans Pelicans battled back and led late in Golden State before faltering down the stretch yet again to fall to the Warriors, 106-102.

The Good: Former Lakers

In a game with former Lakers littered throughout, most of them excelled on the night. Brandon Ingram was the best of the group, scoring 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting with a handful of big buckets in the fourth. Lonzo Ball had one of his best defensive games of the season and chipped in 14 points off the bench.

On the other side, D’Angelo Russell struggled at times but hit huge shot after huge shot down the stretch, leading the Warriors comeback and finishing with 25 points.

Honorable mentions: Jrue Holiday

The Bad: Late-game execution….again

Again, the Pelicans just crumbled down the stretch on Friday. First, it was fouling Damion Lee off the ball with under a minute to go, leading to two free throws and a two-point Warriors lead. Then, it was allowing eight seconds to run off the clock before fouling after Jrue Holiday’s missed jumper with 26 seconds left.

It’s beating the same drum all season but this team continues to make mind-numbing mistakes over and over again.

Honorable mentions: Josh Hart and Kenrich Williams’ three-point shooting

The Ball: Defense sparks offense

Ball had one of his best defensive games of the season, tying his season-high in steals with five. He picked up guys full-court and got into the game on that end of the floor which sparked his defense. In the end, he finished with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and the five steals while hitting two of his four three-point attempts.

[lawrence-related id=18948,18922,18924]

Pelicans vs. Warriors Preview: The potential for a win streak

After snapping its win streak on Wednesday, the Pelicans head into a match-up with the Warriors looking for an unlikely winning streak.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors

When: Friday, Dec. 20, 10:30 p.m ET

Where: Chase Center

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans

Amidst the 13-game losing streak, the idea of a winning streak was long from the minds of the Pelicans. But after knocking off a reeling Minnesota side on Wednesday, the Pelicans have just that opportunity against the worst team in the league.

No team, not even the Pelicans, have battled with injuries to the degree the Warriors have this season, most notably in the form of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. In their absences, though, D’Angelo Russell has continued his emergence as a young star in the league, averaging 21.8 points, 6.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds this season. His averages are comparable to those of Brandon Ingram’s, who is averaging 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

While the Warriors have a marginally better defense this season than New Orleans, sporting a defensive rating nine-tenths of a point higher than the Pelicans, Golden State’s offense has been a struggle. The Warriors rank 29th in the league in offensive rating, nearly four points lower than New Orleans in 20th.

The game does also have draft lottery implications. While New Orleans isn’t necessarily focused on the 2020 NBA Draft yet, the Warriors are. As it stands, the Warriors have the worst record in the league by one game over the Hawks. New Orleans is a game back of Atlanta and can move as high as fifth with a win on the night.

Windhorst: Pelicans could make Lonzo Ball available at NBA trade deadline

There’s a belief that the New Orleans Pelicans don’t view Lonzo Ball as untouchable.

The NBA trade deadline is less than two months away and the New Orleans Pelicans could look to shake up their roster after a disappointing 7-22 start to the season. Sure, a trade might be a little hasty considering it still remains to be seen how Zion Williamson fits with the pieces on the roster, but it’s entirely possible.

If the Pelicans do decide to make a few big moves at the trade deadline, Brian Windhorst of ESPN said that he’s gotten the impression that New Orleans would trade Ball if the right offer came along.

“I think he’d be available,” Windhorst said on the latest Hoop Collective podcast.

This report from Windhorst comes on the heels of the report from Marc Stein of the New York Times on Tuesday, which said that the Pelicans view Brandon Ingram and Williamson as the only untouchable pieces on the roster. Additionally, they’re not currently looking to move JJ Redick, even if his short-term contract could feasibly net them a first-round pick.

That’s not to say the Pelicans are in a hurry ship out Ball or Jrue Holiday — who the team is also reportedly listening to offers for — but it does suggest that New Orleans is devoted to building around Ingram and Williamson, and anyone that doesn’t fit with them is replaceable. So far, Ball and Holiday haven’t done anything to suggest they’re irreplaceable — at least not this season.

Hopefully Williamson brings the best out of Ball and Holiday upon his return. Otherwise, the point guard position could look drastically different for the Pelicans as soon as this season.

[lawrence-related id=18924]

Rumor: Pelicans plan to give Brandon Ingram ‘huge contract’ in offseason

After a strong start to the season in New Orleans, the Pelicans could be in line to give Brandon Ingram a massive contract this summer.

In a year without many positives in New Orleans, Brandon Ingram has been the brightest light. After multiple injury-riddled seasons in Los Angeles, Ingram has flourished in his new role on a new team. The performance could hardly have come at a better time as the forward is set for restricted free agency this summer.

While one could hardly fault the Pelicans for not offering an extension to Ingram this summer given his injuries in the past, he’s now set for a big payday this upcoming summer as a result of his play. On Brian Windhorst’s Hoop Collective podcast released on Friday, the ESPN analyst noted of rumors that have begun floating around suggesting New Orleans intends to hang onto Ingram.

Brian Windhorst: I mean, Brandon Ingram has been nothing but ‘score on bad teams’ for his whole career.’

Tim McMahon: He’s scoring a lot on a bad team now.

Windhorst: Well the word out there is that the Pelicans are going to be giving Brandon Ingram a huge contract in the offseason.

This season, Ingram is averaging 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from beyond the arc and 84.2 percent from the free throw line. Across the board, it’s a career-best season despite him playing an almost identical number of minutes per game as his previous two seasons.

On top of being healthy, Ingram also has the ball more than he has in previous season, sporting a career-high usage rate of 29.4 percent. Prior to this season, his highest usage rate was 23.2 percent last season with the Lakers.

If Ingram continues to play at this level, flirting with a 50/40/90 season while averaging over 25 points per game, he may very well earn himself a maximum contract extension, something once likely considered a longshot for the former Duke product.

[lawrence-related id=18913,18888,18824]

Pelicans vs. Timberwolves Recap: The Good, the Bad and the Ball

The New Orleans Pelicans finally snapped their 13-game winning streak with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The New Orleans Pelicans snapped their 13-game losing streak with a 107-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Wednesday. Here was the good, the bad and the Ball from the game.

The Good: Brandon Ingram

Brandon Ingram has put up gaudy stats for the Pelicans stats all season long with averages of 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. However, on Wednesday, Ingram’s efforts finally came in a win.

In 33:48 against the Timberwolves, Ingram put up 34 points on 54.5% shooting from the field and made all seven of his free-throw attempts. If the Pelicans are playing well, Ingram’s play will put them over the top more often than not.

The Bad: Minnesota’s guard rotation

Rookie Jarrett Culver was inactive for Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans and the Timberwolves’ backcourt crumbled without him.

Jeff Teague moved back into the starting lineup for Minnesota, but he didn’t make the most of his opportunity, shooting 1-8 from the field. Josh Okogie was no better, going 1-7 from the field, including 1-5 from 3-point range.

If there’s an area the Timberwolves need to address at the trade deadline, it’s the point guard position.

The Ball

Lonzo Ball was able to contribute to the Pelicans’ win on Wednesday despite the fact that he was playing through a hip contusion. In 20:47, Ball contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. He also posted a box plus-minus of +11 off the bench.

Ball and the Pelicans will be back at it on Friday to take on the Golden State Warriors. The Pelicans are now 7-22 on the season.

WATCH: Lonzo Ball involved in controversial end-of-regulation play vs. Nets

In attempting to snap their 12-game losing streak on Tuesday, the Pelicans were involved in a controversial end-of-regulation sequence against the Brooklyn Nets.

The New Orleans Pelicans nearly snapped their 12-game losing streak on Tuesday before falling in overtime to the Brooklyn Nets, 108-101. However, the game could have ended in regulation if not for an egregious error from the referees.

Late in regulation, the game clock and shot clock were separated by only a few seconds. Spencer Dinwiddie hoisted a long three-pointer that only hit the backboard as the shot clock expired. Amid confusion on the court, Lonzo Ball corralled the rebound and threw an outlet pass to Josh Hart whose shot did not beat the buzzer.

However, upon replay, it was clear that the ball had not touched the rim and the Pelicans, who had a timeout, should have had possession of the ball at midcourt with a handful of seconds remaining and a chance to win the game.

Here is a video of the sequence:

The refs ruled the ball hit the rim, there was no shot clock violation and that the play wasn’t reviewable. After the game, Alvin Gentry pointed out that he and his staff argued their point with the officials to no avail.

On Wednesday, the Last 2 Minute report confirmed what everyone else knew, calling the missed call an incorrect non-call with the following explanation:

Dinwiddie’s (BKN) shot attempt does not make contact with the rim, and a 24 second violation should have been called.

For a team mired in a now 13-game losing streak following the loss, it’s a particularly frustrating and stinging loss following a night when the team actually executed down the stretch.

Pelicans vs. Timberwolves Preview: Unlucky 13

The Pelicans look to break their 13-game losing streak on Wednesday with a road trip to Minnesota on the second night of a back-to-back

Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Minnesota Timberwolves

When: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 8:00 p.m ET

Where: Target Center

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans

After a heartbreaking loss to the Nets in overtime on Tuesday, New Orleans returns immediately to the court on Wednesday for a road trip to Minnesota looking to break a 13-game losing streak. The contest will be a match-up of two bottom-ten defenses this season with New Orleans ranking 28th in defensive rating and Minnesota slotting in at 23rd.

Despite last night’s strong performance at the end of regulation, the Pelicans still rank among the worst in the league in clutch situations. The team’s net rating of -30.2 in 65 clutch minutes is 28th in the league. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, rank 10th in the league in net rating in the same scenarios, having played 45 minutes in clutch situations.

The Pelicans could be even more shorthanded on Wednesday than they were on Tuesday. Lonzo Ball stepped into the starting lineup with JJ Redick out. However, Ball found himself listed as questionable on the injury report with a hip contusion. If both are out, expect Nickeil Alexander-Walker to step into the starting lineup and E’Twaun Moore to potentially see more action.

[lawrence-related id=18824,18811,18796]

Lonzo Ball listed as questionable vs. Timberwolves with hip contusion

The New Orleans Pelicans may be without Lonzo Ball once again when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Less than 24 hours after moving back into the starting lineup, Lonzo Ball has sustained yet another injury that could keep him sidelined for at least one game. On Wednesday, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that Ball has been listed as questionable for Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a hip contusion.

If Ball isn’t cleared to play, it will be the ninth game he’s missed in 29 games this season. For his career, Ball has played just 61.9% of his games.

Ball has struggled to be more than a replacement level player through his first 20 games with the Pelicans, posting a career-low VORP of zero. For context, a replacement level player has a VORP of -2.

A large part of his struggles can be attributed to his fluctuating role, which can be traced back to the nagging injuries he’s sustained throughout the season. Ball started the first eight games for the Pelicans this season, but then he missed seven of the next 10 games with an adductor strain. Since then, he’s started 5-4 of the game he’s been available.

There was optimism among Pelicans fans and NBA fans alike that a healthy summer is what Ball needed to have a breakout junior season, but that hasn’t been the case so far for the former No. 2 overall pick. Hopefully Ball can put together a string of healthy and, most importantly, productive games for New Orleans sooner rather than later.

[lawrence-related id=18824,18811]

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

The Pelicans nearly snapped their 12-game losing streak on Tuesday before falling at home in overtime to the Brooklyn Nets, 108-101.

The Pelicans nearly snapped their 12-game losing streak on Tuesday before falling at home in overtime to the Brooklyn Nets, 108-101.

The Good: End of regulation execution

For maybe the first time this season and certainly the first time during the current losing skid, the Pelicans executed down the stretch of regulation. Down 89-83 with little over two minutes left, Jrue Holiday hit a layup, Lonzo Ball knocked down an open three-pointer, Brandon Ingram converted a gorgeous move at the rim and Holiday capped it off with an and-one dunk over Jarrett Allen.

In a span of 1:08, the Pelicans went on an 11-2 run to take a 93-91 run with 56.5 seconds left. Unfortunately, the game didn’t end there but it was a rare bright spot on a night and streak full of dark moments.

The Bad: The blown call at the end of regulation

There are a lot of reasons the Pelicans lost on Tuesday. They shot 34.3 percent from the field, 27.5 percent from beyond the arc and could not stop the Nets in overtime.

But missed calls don’t come more egregious than the one the referees had to end regulation. After Josh Hart forced a wild stepback three-pointer from Spencer Dindwiddie, the shot did not hit rim as the shot clock expired. The result should have been Pelicans ball with a timeout and roughly two seconds remaining.

The refs, though, did not call a shot clock violation and Hart’s half-court heave did not beat the buzzer. Even worse, the refs did not review the missed call and did not seem to even acknowledge that a controversial play just happened.

For a team trying to break out of a slump, moments like that sting all the worse.

The Ball: Clutch three on rough night

Ball was no exception to the Pelicans’ rough shooting on the night, finishing 4-of-13 overall and 1-of-5 from three for 10 points. His one three-pointer, though, was his last one coming in that late fourth-quarter run. He also had an overtime bucket with the game still in balance, finishing at the rim on a fastbreak over a defender.

He added eight rebounds and four assists in the loss in his return to the starting lineup.

[lawrence-related id=18824,18811,18796]