Down both their All-Star in Brandon Ingram and No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson on the road on Saturday against the Pacers, Jrue Holiday seized control of the contest as he’s been accustomed to doing throughout his career. Holiday finished with 17 points in the fourth quarter and helped seal the win with crucial buckets late.
After the game, Lonzo Ball, who himself knocked down some big shots in the fourth, talked about Holiday’s fourth-quarter and entire-game performance to help lead the team to a pivotal victory to remain in the playoff hunt on Saturday.
“He hit the bucket we needed to seal the deal for sure. But throughout the game, he played a great game for tonight us all-around, both sides of the ball. And that’s what we need every night from him.”
Holiday missed just two shots in the fourth quarter, going 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc while hitting all six of his free throws. In total on the night, Holiday finished with 31 points and 10 assists, marking just the third time this season Holiday has scored 30 points.
The veteran point guard has taken a step back this season with the introduction of Ingram and Williamson. But Holiday has still flashed moments of brilliance when needed, most notably in the Pelicans’ win at Memphis in which he returned from injury and scored a season-high 36 points.
It’s a credit to the depth New Orleans has this season that Holiday, still a star two-way guard in the league, can take a back seat and still find moments like on Saturday to impose himself on a game in crucial moments.
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