Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry:
On the loss:
“I thought we played hard. Actually, I thought we played hard in the first half. We just didn’t do a very good job of rebounding the basketball, but they just shot it. Those two guards are extremely talented – their midrange game – they made all their shots. We just couldn’t get them slowed down. I thought we did a much better job in the second half. We competed like crazy and I think, with four minutes to go in the game, they had like thirty six points for the second half, but when you get down by that much and you have to come back, when you make your run, you’re not creating any kind of separation, you’re just getting yourself even. Then it’s got to almost be the perfect storm which almost happened. We came back. We got two up and then they made a big three. CJ (McCollum) made a big three which was a great play by (Damian) Lillard, but we did everything that we possibly could have and they just made the plays down the stretch. ”
On ejection of Kendrick Perkins and its impact on the game:
“First of all, it looks a lot worse than it was. I think what Perk was trying to do was that he was trying to take the foul and he was going to grab him (Damian Lillard) and wrap him up, and then when he grabbed him around the chest, obviously his momentum took him forward so it looked like he went for his neck which Perk is not that kind of player. He’s not that kind of player at all. He was trying to take a foul on him and it appeared (to be) more. I understand the call, but I thought that after that we did get focused in and we tried to rally and tried to make a run. Like I said, I thought we did a great job. Just didn’t quite get over the hump, but the effort was there. Everybody played extremely hard and obviously when you’re missing your best player it’s tough to beat a team that’s playing like they are.”
On Anthony Davis’s injury status:
“It’s hard to say. I haven’t looked at anything, but basically it’s just a sore left knee. There is no reason for us to take any kind of chances with him right now so that’s why we just held him out. I didn’t think it made sense to stick him back out there and play in the situation that we’re in right now. Obviously, if there was a bigger bounty out there for us for winning the game, we may have considered it, but we didn’t consider it so we’ll wait and see. He’ll get it looked at and we’ll go from there.”
Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson:
On what got them back into the game:
“We got stops. That was a team that can put up a lot of points and they are led by two great scoring guards. I think in the first half, we had trouble containing them and I think we fought more in the second half. I think we showed great team defense in the second half and that is something that we struggled with a little bit this year. I wish we could have done that the whole game. But you know on the other end, we were moving the ball and some guys hit some huge shots. Jrue (Holiday) hit some shots. Tim (Frazier) and Dante (Cunningham) played well.”
On the overall reaction to Anthony Davis’s injury:
“We have to step up extra when he is out. Regardless of who is on the court, we have to fight and play hard. That has been the story of the season. Guys have to step up when it is time. Tonight we stepped up and that put us in position to tie or potentially win the game.”
Pelicans guard Tim Frazier:
On his impact:
“Anytime I get on the court, I want to play the game the best I can. I never want to take a day for granted. Unfortunately, we did not get this win, I really wanted this win. The great thing about basketball is that you have another opportunity in the next game.”
On what it was like to have your name called late in the fourth quarter:
“I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was just trying to win. Obviously it makes you feel better about yourself anytime you can help your team win. The biggest thing is that we didn’t get the win tonight, but we will go after it again on Sunday.”