Raptors (7-3), Pelicans (1-8)
TORONTO – For the second time in as many games on New Orleans’ current three-game road trip, the Pelicans performed well enough for a half to compete with an Eastern Conference host, but it ultimately wasn’t enough, particularly without the services of Anthony Davis (right hip contusion). Playing stingy, disruptive defense against the Atlantic Division’s premier team in the first half, New Orleans played to a 40-all draw, but Toronto took over after intermission. The Raptors quickly grabbed the lead in the third quarter and went up 72-61 by the end of the period. Toronto eventually built a 24-point margin. New Orleans will wrap up its road trip Sunday at New York (11 a.m. Central, Fox Sports New Orleans).
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Toronto point guard Cory Joseph sank a three-pointer from the left wing, giving the Raptors their first 20-point lead at 86-66 with about 7:15 remaining. New Orleans had led by as many as nine points in the second quarter, but Toronto reeled its guests back in by intermission and enjoyed a 60-41 scoring edge from there.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Eric Gordon did everything in his power to keep New Orleans competitive early, providing exactly half of the visitors’ 40 first-half points. Gordon finished with a total of 30 points, a handful shy of his top scoring game in a New Orleans uniform of 35. Gordon’s best offensive output in the NBA is 41 points, which took place when he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Indiana University product was 11-for-22 from the field and 4-for-11 on treys.
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
About two hours before tip-off Friday, word spread throughout Air Canada Centre of the horrific terrorist attack in Paris. A native of France, Alexis Ajinca wrote “Pray for Paris” on the soles of his sneakers, tweeting the photo to his 44,000-plus followers. Playing with a heavy heart, the 7-foot-2 center turned in his best game of the young season, posting 10 points and nine rebounds. Ajinca’s uniform No. 42 is a reference to the geographic area of France where he is from, similar to an area code.
QUOTES TO NOTE
“In the second half, (the Raptors) got into us and played with a lot more intensity, and we didn’t respond well. We didn’t move the basketball and started to go too much one-on-one; that really helps their defense. The game turned, they made some threes and that’s where they got separation.” – Alvin Gentry on the change between the first and second halves
“We don’t know when he’s going to play again, so we can’t use that as an excuse. We don’t have any excuses. We played poorly in the second half and that’s why (the Raptors) won the basketball game.” – Gentry on playing without Davis
“Every night it’s a fight, a scrap… Right now, we seem like we keep running out of juice at the end. We’re pouring everything we have out there.” – Dante Cunningham, after the Pelicans had a noticeably better first half than second half for a second straight game
BY THE NUMBERS
56, 64: Toronto shooting percentages in the second half from the field and three-point range, respectively.
36.6: New Orleans overall shooting percentage. The Pelicans were just 14 of 40 from the field after intermission.
49: Points by the Pelicans’ starting backcourt of Gordon (30) and Jrue Holiday (19). The rest of the club was a combined 11-for-46 from the field, with only Ajinca (5/9) making more than two baskets.