The Pelicans are still in the fight. Although there are still facets of the game that need to be improved, those from Louisiana are winning games and are on that shortlist of teams that are straddling the playoff spots and play-in. It’s not a bad situation for them, especially after beating one of the competition’s toughest rivals, Memphis, 113-102.
That’s how it is. Despite not having Zion Williamson, who was absent due to a bruised right foot (the same in which a fracture prevented him from playing in the 2021-22 season), New Orleans showed character and strength to close an even match in the last quarter. . During three periods no team reached an income of 10 points and a tight finish was heralded, but everything changed with a 10-2 run in favor of the locals at the opening of the final 12 minutes. Such a blow led them to get a 13-point advantage that they knew how to manage until the end of the match.
To achieve such an important victory, the resurgence of CJ McCollum was key. The guard arrived after averaging 9.5 points with 27% shooting from the field in the last four games. That changed against Memphis, as he was their team’s top scorer with 30 points and an excellent 7 of 13 3-pointers.
Lately I’ve been playing like shit and feeling just like that. I shot very badly at the basket, which is not something usual for me. It is clear that you are going to convert and miss shots. My trajectory speaks for itself about how I work and how I perform. You just have to keep swimming,” says the guard.
Along with McCollum, Brandon Ingram also had a good performance with 19 points and Larry Nance Jr. with another 19 points to which he added seven rebounds from the bench.
El retorno de Jars Jackson Jr.
After overcoming a major injury, Jaren Jackson Jr. returned to the courts against the Pelicans. The power forward was happy to return, but he couldn’t celebrate it with good numbers, since he stayed at 7 points and 6 rebounds with a 3 of 14 shooting from the field. It is normal. He needs some filming before showing the best version of him.
Who was in his usual line was Ja Morant, who finished with 36 points (24 in the first half). The point guard, despite his statistical sheet, ended up upset with the second part of his team, in which they stayed at 42 points. “We just have to be able to finish in the paint and hit open shots. That is more or less what we have been doing throughout the season, which made us a good team offensively, “he says.
(Photograph by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)