By facing weak teams, the Pelicans win matches again and remain more than ever in the race for the “play-in”. After successes against the Rockets and the Spurs, they dismissed the Hornets (127-105) after three more or less balanced quarters.
Brandon Ingram and his band had the control of the meeting and only needed to accelerate at the right time, in the last act, to win.
This third victory in a row allows them to take tenth place in the West, with the same record as the Thunder, who lost to the Clippers.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
Bad starts for the Hornets. 9-1, after two minutes, to start the first quarter. Then a 6-0 to resume after the break. Finally, an 8-2 at the start of the last quarter. The Charlotte players spent the evening chasing the score, because they always missed the step when returning to the floor.
A one-sided last quarter. If the Hornets managed to resist and not let go for 36 minutes, all the seams jumped in the last. Too many loose balls and missed shots in attack, then a defense unable to stop Jonas Valanciunas or Naji Marshall near the circle.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Brandon Ingram. With his two baskets at the end of the third quarter, he somewhat announced the Pelicans’ takeover at the end of the game. Above all, he was active with 11 rebounds and 10 assists, to go with his 30 points, thus achieving his first career triple-double.
✅ Jonas Valanciunas. The Pelicans relied on him during the first possessions of the game and as against the Rockets recently, he enjoyed himself with 20 points at 10/16 in shooting and 19 rebounds.
⛔ The Hornets’ final quarter. Everything had not been perfect during this match for the players of Steve Clifford, in particular the address at 3-pts, but they were still in the game at the start of the last act. But then nothing worked. With six lost balls and only 29% shooting success, they finished the match with 15 points in twelve minutes…
THE FOLLOWING
New Orleans (36-37) : trip to Los Angeles, against the Clippers, Saturday.
Charlotte (23-51) : trip to Dallas, Friday evening.
