Brandon Ingram entered unique statistical territory in 41-point eruption vs. Toronto

It’s been more than a half-century – back in Wilt Chamberlain’s heyday – since the NBA has delivered so many eye-popping individual offensive performances, to the point where even 40-point games sometimes fly under the radar. Dallas guard Luka Doncic recently piled up 73 points on the same night that Phoenix guard Devin Booker scored 62. That same January week, Philadelphia center Joel Embiid accumulated 70 points on the same evening that Minnesota forward Karl-Anthony Towns posted 62 of his own.

By comparison, New Orleans forward Brandon Ingram’s 41-point eruption Monday vs. Toronto may not have reached the same scoring stratosphere, but a few specific elements made it a uniquely historic performance, particularly in the annals of Crescent City professional basketball.

Here are some of those:

MOST POINTS THROUGH THREE QUARTERS (41) IN NEW ORLEANS HISTORY

There have been four instances of a New Orleans player registering a 50-point game – with Ingram himself nearly joining that club in January 2020 with a 49-pointer vs. Utah – as well as a total of 14 games of 45-plus points. Among all of those performances, however, no one had ever tallied the 41 Ingram compiled through three quarters Monday. Given the way Ingram was shooting the ball, he probably would’ve cleared his career high and perhaps threatened Anthony Davis’ franchise record of 59 vs. Detroit in 2016 – but the Pelicans didn’t need him in the fourth quarter, eventually building a lead of as many as 45 over the Raptors.

“It seemed like everything he was throwing up was going in, from the start of the game,” forward Zion Williamson said of Ingram’s three quarters of work.

MOST THREE-POINTERS IN A QUARTER (6) IN NEW ORLEANS HISTORY

Over 22 seasons of Hornets/Pelicans basketball, the franchise has suited up some of the sport’s greatest shooters, such as Peja Stojakovic, JJ Redick and CJ McCollum (as well as two others who also rank in the top 35 for career three-point makes). Yet no New Orleans player had ever drained more than a handful of three-pointers in a period prior to Ingram sinking six third-quarter treys Monday. The Pelicans were already in control on the scoreboard against the Raptors prior to Ingram’s explosion, but a 38-21 third period made the margin 105-71.

“When he shoots the ball like that, it puts the game away, and that’s what he did,” head coach Willie Green said.

FIRST NBA PLAYER IN PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA WITH A THREE ON FIVE CONSECUTIVE POSSESSIONS

The NBA can only track this back to the 1997-98 campaign, making it difficult to know if or when it was ever done previously, but when Ingram scored 15 points over just five Pelicans third-quarter possessions – knocking down a three-point bucket on each one – he became the first player to do so over the last 27 seasons. Often a somewhat reluctant shooter from deep, Ingram kept firing and getting good results, with his teammates making every effort to dish to the hot gunner and let him cook.

“We’ve been on our guys to shoot more threes, and BI especially,” Green said. “He has it in him. Tonight he sees what happens when he shoots the shots that are open. He just caught fire and the guys continued to find him.”

Asked if he’s ever been in a shooting rhythm like that before, a smiling Ingram responded, “Not from the three-point line. Maybe (from) mid-range. It felt good.”

FIRST NEW ORLEANS PLAYER WITH A 20-POINT, FIVE-ASSIST QUARTER

Long-range accuracy was the Ingram contribution that stood out most from Monday’s epic performance, but it was far from the only way he helped the Pelicans dominate, 138-100. The eighth-year NBA veteran managed to squeeze in five third-quarter assists prior to his one-man three-point shooting show, becoming the first New Orleans player with that scoring/passing combination within the same period. For the game, Ingram’s 41 points were supported by six rebounds, nine assists and one block. He became the first NBA player ever to post 40-plus points, nine assists and zero turnovers in 30 minutes or less (logged 29:58).

“He played a complete game tonight and was great defensively, active in the passing lanes, really showing his athleticism and skill set,” McCollum said.

“He’s always going to make the right play,” Williamson said of Ingram’s balance between scoring and passing.

Inside the Pelicans’ practice facility in Metairie, there are three large banners with single words displayed above the court, with one of them reading “JOY.” New Orleans players exhibited that trait in emphatic fashion late in Monday’s third quarter, leaping out of their seats on the sideline as Ingram continued to hit three-pointers. Naji Marshall and Matt Ryan appeared ready to run onto the hardwood near the end of the Ingram barrage, celebrating what would be a third straight victory for the Pelicans. In exactly half of his 46 games played this season, Ingram has taken three or fewer three-point attempts, but due to a blistering touch Monday, he fired 11 and made eight, the latter also a career high.

“It’s definitely a confidence boost,” Ingram said when asked if he’ll take more threes after Monday’s results. “If it feels that good, I’m going to continue to shoot it. It definitely makes us a better team when I’m out there attempting to shoot threes.”

“Any of our guys,” Green said, “when they shoot the ball like that, it’s going to be tough to stop us.”