Pelicans (25-21), Bulls (18-29)
You don’t see double overtime every day. You don’t see a team rally from 17 points down midway through the fourth quarter to force extra time often, either. You definitely don’t see many individuals go for 40-20-10 in an NBA game – in fact, it hadn’t happened in the league since 1972.
Yet all of those things occurred Monday, when New Orleans posted a wild, memorable, double-OT home victory over Chicago, despite trailing by 17 points in the fourth period. DeMarcus Cousins turned in a historic performance for the Pelicans by finishing with 44 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists. Cousins became the first player to notch a 40-20-10 line since Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did so 46 years ago.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Well, it seemed like it was over many times, but it wasn’t officially official until Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen airballed a corner three-pointer and New Orleans rebounded it in the final seconds of double OT, sealing a four-point victory. Numerous players for both sides made go-ahead and tying hoops in make-or-break situations at the end of regulation, as well as in the initial OT session.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
After Anthony Davis (34 points, nine rebounds) fouled out in the first OT, Cousins continued to dominate and became an even greater focal point of the New Orleans offensive attack, tallying 11 points in the overtime sessions. In addition to his 44-24-10 line in the three major stat categories, the four-time All-Star also drained five three-pointers and picked up four steals. His outstanding 13/14 night at the foul line included four critical makes, putting New Orleans up 122-121 in the waning moments of the first OT, then giving the Pelicans a two-possession edge at 132-128 with eight seconds to go in the latter OT.
QUOTES TO NOTE
“Legendary.” – Davis on Cousins’ rarely-seen performance
“I’m just glad we won. It wouldn’t have really meant (crap) if I didn’t get a win.” – Cousins on his gaudy stat line that hasn’t been produced in more than a generation
“It’s cool to be in company with a guy like Wilt. He was a guy who put up video-game numbers his entire career. Just to have a little game like his, it’s pretty cool.” – Cousins on joining exclusive company with Wilt Chamberlain
“I think it started with Jrue (Holiday). The defense, the pressure he put on the ball, I think the energy just spread throughout the team. It was our effort and defense down the stretch.” – Cousins on the key to New Orleans overcoming a 17-point deficit in the final 5:06
“The minutes. My strength coach had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to lift after this game. I almost lost it. If I had some energy, we would’ve fought.” – A smiling Cousins, when asked what part of his stat line he was most impressed by; he played a career-high 52 minutes
BY THE NUMBERS
4: New Orleans games over .500 after Monday’s win, the first time all season that the Pelicans have been that far above the break-even mark.
24: Chicago turnovers, leading to 22 New Orleans points. The Pelicans were disruptive on defense for portions of the evening, particularly during the fourth-quarter comeback that led to numerous bad Bulls possessions.
21-2: New Orleans fourth-quarter run that turned a 108-91 deficit with 5:06 left into a 112-110 lead with 22 seconds remaining, capped by Davis alley oop slam from Holiday.