Category: Pelicans

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

They came close, but the New Orleans Pelicans couldn’t upset the Los Angeles Lakers in what was Anthony Davis’ return.

The New Orleans Pelicans gave it all they had, but it wasn’t enough to spoil Anthony Davis’ return as the Los Angeles Lakers beat them 114-110. Here was the good, the bad and the Ball from Wednesday’s exciting game.

The Good: The Pelicans’ 3-point shooting

It seemed like the Pelicans were making every shot they put up on Wednesday, particularly from behind the arc. Through four quarters, the Pelicans shot a ridiculous 42.5% from 3-point range. JJ Redick led the team with five made 3-pointers in eight attempts, followed by Jrue Holiday, who sunk four of his six attempts.

Unfortunately, Redick wasn’t able to sink the biggest shot of the night, coming up short on a long 2-point attempt in the final seconds of the game. Still, it was a great showing for New Orleans and one they’ll hope to build on once they’re at full strength.

That Anthony Davis character is pretty good, too.

The Bad: Turnovers

The Pelicans ended the night with 20 assists as a team, but turned the Ball over 19 times. That’s nearly a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio, which isn’t going to win you too many ballgames, even if the other team is struggling to take care of the ball, too. If the Pelicans are going to play upsetter this season, the turnovers need to be cut down.

The Ball

Lonzo Ball missed Wednesday night’s game with a stomach virus. He will be re-evaluated later this week.

Pelicans vs. Lakers Preview: Anthony Davis return to New Orleans

Anthony Davis will return to the New Orleans for the first time since being traded as part of a Lakers team flying high early in the season.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers

When: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 9:30 p.m ET

Where: Smoothie King Center

How to watch: ESPN

Arguably the most-anticipated game of the year for the Pelicans will see Anthony Davis return to New Orleans on Wednesday. The Lakers come in as arguably the hottest team in the league, winners of eight straight contests with the last three being road wins.

The Pelicans could hardly be further from that. Their own recent road trip was far less successful with losses to Utah and the Clippers in the final two legs. In the process of those losses, New Orleans gave up 128 and 134 points as the defense has continued to struggle. The Pelicans now hold the fourth-worst net rating and allow the fourth-highest effective field goal percentage per game.

Making matters worse is that the Lakers are one of the top offenses in the league. Los Angeles is fifth in overall effective field goal percentage, fifth in offensive net rating and have hit their stride in recent weeks. Since Nov. 3, the Lakers are third in the league in offensive rating.

Los Angeles has found its greatest success offensively in attacking the paint, ranking second in the league effective field goal percentage at the rim. While New Orleans ranks 16th in defending the rim, they will be without big man Derrick Favors, one of the players who likely would have been tasked with defending Davis.

The Lakers’ size could present problems for a smaller New Orleans side. With Brandon Ingram and Kenrich Williams often spending time at the four, each may be matched up on Davis on the night if the Pelicans do not change up rotations. If they do, head coach Alvin Gentry may turn to Nicolo Melli more as a bigger body on the former Pelican star.

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

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Los Angeles Clippers routed the New Orleans Pelicans in Staples Center on Sunday evening, leading throughout and winning comfortably, 134-109.

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Los Angeles Clippers routed the New Orleans Pelicans in Staples Center on Sunday evening, leading throughout and winning comfortably, 134-109.

The Good: E’Twaun Moore

There wasn’t much positive about tonight’s game for the Pelicans but Moore had one of his best performances of the year. He knocked down three three-pointers in the second quarter to try to keep the game close and finished with 17 points in the loss.

Of the five players off New Orleans’ bench on the night, Moore was the only way with a plus-minus better than negative-20. Moore finished the night a negative-8. His play is needed with the injuries on the wing and could further crowd things once the team is back to full health.

Honorable Mentions: Low turnover total, Postive plus-minus totals from Jaxson Hayes, JJ Redick

The Bad: Defense

After giving up 128 points to Utah on Saturday, the Pelicans gave up 134 points to the Clippers. It was a pretty putrid display across the board for the Pelicans as Los Angeles raced out to an early lead and was barely threatened by New Orleans in the second half.

New Orleans badly needs to get home and reset before Wednesday’s game against the Lakers in Anthony Davis’ return.

Honorable Mentions: The bench’s production, the defense on Montrezl Harrell

The Ball: Coming back down to Earth

After a strong night in Utah, Lonzo Ball came back down to Earth on Sunday. He finished with a stat line of nine points on 4-of-13 shooting overall and 1-of-7 three-point shooting with five assists, four rebounds and a steal with two turnovers.

Ball was one of four Pelican bench players who finished with a plus-minus under negative-20, finishing a game-worst negative-27 in the loss. Ball’s struggles were emblematic of the team’s struggles on the night in an all-around terrible game for New Orleans.

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Pelicans vs. Jazz Preview: Can New Orleans continue the win streak?

New Orleans looks for his fourth consecutive win on Saturday against the Utah Jazz while moving closer to the playoffs.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Utah Jazz

When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 9:00 p.m ET

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans, NBATV

After its rocky start to the season, most of it a result of injuries, the New Orleans Pelicans appear to have found its stride in the recent week. Thursday’s win in Phoenix was the third-straight victory, marking the first three-game win streak of the season, and the fourth win in the last five games.

On top of boosting the confidence of the young Pelicans, the streak also has slowly pulled New Orleans back into the early playoff picture. The Pelicans are in the 10th seed, 1.5 games back of eight-seed Phoenix. Saturday’s contest against Utah pits them against the current six seed in the standings and one of the projected Western Conference favorites.

Unlike New Orleans, Utah started fast this season, winning four of its first five games. Not surprisingly, the Jazz have the top-ranked defense in the league with a rating of 100.7. Also unsurprisingly, Utah is playing at a pace that ranks them 21st in the league.

Comparatively, the Pelicans are ninth in offensive rating and fifth in pace, making Saturday’s contest a battle of two teams composed in two different styles. New Orleans is also getting closer to full strength with Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball both back on the court. Derrick Favors, however, will not be available for the Pelicans in the contest in his first potential return to Utah.

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

A strong start by JJ Redick and a stronger finish by Brandon Ingram powered the Pelicans to a win on TNT over the Phoenix Suns on the road on Friday, 124-121. The Good: Brandon Ingram’s fourth quarter Up until the fourth quarter, this section seemed …

A strong start by JJ Redick and a stronger finish by Brandon Ingram powered the Pelicans to a win on TNT over the Phoenix Suns on the road on Friday, 124-121.

The Good: Brandon Ingram’s fourth quarter

Up until the fourth quarter, this section seemed like a runaway for Redick. But Ingram scored 14 points in the fourth and hit clutch basket after clutch basket down the stretch to turn a close game into a comfortable win. Ingram finished with a team-high 28 points, scored the final nine New Orleans’ points and was huge on both ends in the fourth. Tack on eight rebounds and five assists to his stat line and his plus-minus of +24 and the story of his big night is told.

Still, JJ Redick deserves a bit more than an honorable mention after scoring 26 points on the night. Redick was scorching from three-point range in the first quarter with back-to-back four-point play opportunities. He finished with 26 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting and 10-of-14 shooting overall.

Honorable Mentions: Kenrich Williams’ glue-guy plays, Jrue Holiday, E’Twaun Moore

The Bad: The Bench

Typically a strong suit for the Pelicans, the bench had a subpar night by its lofty standards. Moore finished with 19 points but all five players off the bench had negative plus-minus figures on the evening. Ironically enough, Moore had the lowest plus-minus on the team at -16.

Frank Jackson struggled, missing all four shots, and while Lonzo Ball returned, he predictably struggled from the field after a hot start.

Also interesting is that Nickeil Walker-Alexander played less than two minutes in the win. With the Pelicans getting healthy, the rotation will quickly become crowded again and NAW may be on the outside looking in.

Honorable Mention: The refs in the final seconds, Jrue Holiday’s free throws to end the game

The Ball: A strong return

Ball needed only seconds to find the scoring column again after making his return on Friday night. Ball connected on his first shot of the night, a three-pointer, before hitting a baseline jumper on his second attempt.

In total, Ball finished with eight points on 3-of-9 shooting overall and 2-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. He added five assists and a rebound as well. He did all of it in 19:11, a tick below the expected 20-minute cap on Ball’s night.

The focus now will be on how Ball feels after the game and whether his body reacts well to being back in action. That will determine his availability on Saturday.

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Lonzo Ball will make his return vs. Suns, but come off bench

Lonzo Ball will come off the bench for the first time in his New Orleans Pelicans career on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns.

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After being sidelined for six consecutive games, Lonzo Ball will make his return for the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix. Ball was listed as questionable going into Thursday’s game.

However, unlike every other game Ball has played with the Pelicans this season, he won’t be in the starting lineup, per Gambadoro.

While that could be a result of Gentry wanting to ease Ball back into the rotation, it’s more like that Gentry is happy with that he’s seen from the new-look starting backcourt featuring Holiday at the 1 — where Ball played originally — and JJ Redick at the 2.

Holiday and Redick haven’t been great defensively, posting a defensive rating of 112.5 in the 11 games they’ve played together, but they’ve been great offensively, posting an offensive rating of 110.6. For context, the pairing of Ball and Holiday posted an offensive rating of 106.8 and an overall net rating of -9.6.

Ball could eventually work his way back into the starting lineup, but until he starts to be more aggressive as a scorer — not just a shooter — veteran scorers like Redick will continue to leapfrog him in the rotation.

The Pelicans and Suns will tip-off at 10:30 p.m. EST.

Lonzo Ball listed as questionable vs. Suns

The New Orleans Pelicans haven’t rule Lonzo Ball out of their matchup with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

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The New Orleans Pelicans will look to make it three wins in a row on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns and if Lonzo Ball is cleared to play, they’ll be in a great position to do that.

Ball has missed the last six games with an adductor strain he suffered against the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this month. On Wednesday, the Pelicans announced that Ball has been listed as questionable for Thursday night’s matchup with the Suns, leaving the door open for him to make his return in Phoenix.

It should be noted, though, that Ball has been listed as questionable in each of the last three games, too, including Tuesday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. With the exception of his status leading up to games, there has been little-to-no updates on the 22-year-old point guard’s health.

The good news is that the Pelicans have managed without Ball. In fact, in the six games New Orleans has played with Ball sidelined, they’ve gone 4-2. In the games that Ball played earlier in the season, they went 1-7.

That’s not to say Ball makes the Pelicans worse, but it may be a sign that the starting lineup they’ve been using in Ball’s absence has better chemistry than the one featuring Ball. For that reasons, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ball come off the bench upon his return.

We’ll get an update on Ball’s status and the starting lineup before tip-off at 10:30 p.m. EST.

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

The New Orleans Pelicans leapfrogged the Portland Trail Blazers in the standings thanks to Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday.

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The New Orleans Pelicans spoiled Carmelo Anthony’s debut with the Portland Trail Blazers, beating the Trail Blazers 115-104 for their fifth win of the season. Here was the good, the bad and the Ball from Tuesday’s game.

The Good: The Starters

The Pelicans got their leading scorer Brandon Ingram back on Tuesday and he picked up right where he left off. In 34:33, he scored 21 points and added seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. However, for the first time in a while, he wasn’t the team’s leading scorer — that was Jrue Holiday.

Holiday finished the game with 22 points and 10 assists for his third triple-double of the regular season. Tuesday also marked his third game with at least 20 points in the last four games. With Ball sidelined, Holiday’s stepped up in a big way, as has JJ Redick, who scored 18 points for the Pelicans.

When Ball eventually returns from the adductor strain that has kept him out of the last six games, Gentry will have to decide whether or not it’s worth jeopardizing the chemistry and, most importantly, the success the new-look first unit has looked in Ball’s absence.

The Bad: The Portland Trail Blazers

Coming off of their best finish since the 2013-14 season, the Trail Blazers are the second-worst team in the NBA with a 5-10 record. While they’re hoping Carmelo Anthony will help them break out of their slump, he doesn’t offer much on the defensive end, which has been one of their main areas of struggle.

For their sake, they better hope Jusuf Nurkic comes back looking as good as he did last season and Anthony resembles a starting caliber player.

The Ball

Lonzo Ball missed his sixth straight game with an adductor strain. He will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

Pelicans vs. Blazers Preview: Lillard-less Portland visits depleted New Orleans

The Lillard-, Nurkic- and Collins-less Blazers visit the Zion- and potentially Lonzo- and Ingram-less Pelicans.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers

When: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 8:00 p.m ET

Where: Smoothie King Center

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans, NBATV

While no team can say they’ve had as many injuries as the Pelicans this season, the Trail Blazers would likely be second on the list of impactful injuries. Injuries to Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins have decimated an already thin front line for Portland and led to the signing of Carmelo Anthony, who is expected to make his debut on Tuesday.

The latest injury, though short-term, to Damian Lillard will have likely the biggest impact yet. While Anfernee Simons has had a breakout season, losing All-NBA players are incredibly difficult to replace.

On the Pelicans side, plenty of questions around their own injuries leave much of their gameplan on a nightly basis up in the air. Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball both are questionable along with Frank Jackson. With them, the Pelicans could pick up a big Western Conference win. Without them, they’ll have to continue an uphill battle against injuries.

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Carmelo Anthony expected to make Trail Blazers debut vs. Pelicans

Carmelo Anthony will hope to make promising debut against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

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It’s been over a year since Carmelo Anthony played in the NBA. Last time he played on an NBA court, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram were still with the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, the pair of former No. 2 overall picks are on the New Orleans Pelicans, who will host Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday for what is expected to be Anthony’s season debut.

Anthony agreed to a non-guaranteed deal with the Trail Blazers on Thursday, but he didn’t play in the two games they’ve played since then — including the game against the team that cut him last season, the Houston Rockets — because he’s targeting Tuesday for his season debut, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Anthony won’t solve all of Portland’s problems — especially not on defense, where they’re ranked No. 21 in the league — but he can still score at a high level. In the 10 games he played last season, be scored at least 20 points in three of them. That’s not to say the Trail Blazers should expect Anthony to return to his All-Star form this season, but given their disappointing 5-9 record, they certainly wouldn’t be upset if the 35-year-old turned back the clock.

The Trail Blazers will get an idea of how much Anthony still has left in the tank on Tuesday against the Pelicans. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. EST.

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