Trivia: Which of the two following statistical lines recently earned New Orleans forward Brandon Ingram a Western Conference Player of the Week award?
30.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.3 apg, 54.7 FG percentage, 50.0 three-point percentage, 89.7 FT percentage
31.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 10.0 apg, 52.5 FG percentage, 46.2 three-point percentage, 100.0 FT percentage
Having trouble deciding? That’s understandable. Over a total of seven games spanning two separate seven-day periods, Ingram put up nearly identical, gaudy statistics, performing at an All-NBA level (the latter of the two above lines is the correct answer, by the way, generated by Ingram in his award-winning Week 23).
“B.I., you’re playing like the best player in the league right now,” Pelicans second-year head coach Willie Green told Ingram in the locker room after Saturday’s 122-114 win over the Clippers.
Willie Green in the locker room postgame after win vs. Clippers 4/1/2023
Ingram again turned in an elite stat line, with 36 points and eight assists, while shooting 13/23 from the field and 10/11 at the foul line. More importantly, New Orleans (40-38) delivered perhaps its most vital victory of 2022-23, a win that vaulted the Pelicans into bona fide contention for a top-six Western Conference playoff seed. With only six days remaining in the regular season, New Orleans can lock up a playoff berth (thereby avoiding the play-in tournament altogether) by winning each of its four remaining games, but even a 3-1 finish seems likely to accomplish the same goal. Here’s a breakdown of how the West race is shaping up when it resumes Tuesday (there are no NBA games Monday due to the NCAA title game):
4) PHOENIX 43-35
With a three-game lead on New Orleans and only four games left for both clubs, the Suns may be too far ahead to remain a team to watch on the scoreboard by Pelicans fans. Unless that means to potentially root for them on the weekend against the two Los Angeles franchises.
Schedule: Tuesday vs. San Antonio; Thursday vs. Denver; Friday at Lakers; Sunday vs. Clippers
Most important game remaining: If the Suns haven’t already clinched the No. 4 seed by Friday, it will be the road contest against the Lakers.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: New Orleans has the edge based on conference record if the Pelicans defy the odds and make up their current three-game deficit.
5) LA CLIPPERS 41-38
The weekend unfolded exactly how New Orleans wanted it to, with the Pelicans slicing LA’s lead on them from two full games to just a half-game. The Pelicans now control their own destiny with the Clippers, with each club having lost 38 times.
Schedule: Wednesday vs. Lakers; Saturday vs. Portland; Sunday at Phoenix
Most important game remaining: The Clippers have a chance to sweep the season series from the Lakers 4-0 on Wednesday, which would help the Clips significantly in any potential three- or four-team deadlock that involves both Los Angeles squads.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: New Orleans swept the season series 3-0, its first sweep of LAC since 2009-10.
6) GOLDEN STATE 41-38
The only team to beat New Orleans over the Pelicans’ last eight games, the Warriors are now in a bit of jeopardy of falling outside of the top six, partly because they lost their tiebreaker to the Lakers (1-3 in season series).
Schedule: Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City; Friday at Sacramento; Sunday at Portland
Most important game remaining: All three are basically equal in significance to Golden State, but the next game vs. Oklahoma City will have the most impact on the West race for play-in spots.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: New Orleans will have the edge based on conference record if deadlocked after 82 games.
7) LA LAKERS 40-38
Like New Orleans, the Lakers have been rolling lately, winning seven of their last 10 games. The Lakers could benefit from a pair of 3-1 season-series triumphs over Golden State and New Orleans, particularly if there is a multi-team tie that includes some combination of those squads.
Schedule: Tuesday at Utah; Wednesday at Clippers; Friday vs. Phoenix; Sunday vs. Utah
Most important game remaining: Without a doubt, it’s the mid-week matchup against the Clippers. Beyond the obvious, the Lakers need to avoid a series sweep, partly due to the potential of that harming LAL in various scenarios.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: Won the season series 3-1.
8) NEW ORLEANS 40-38
A 7-1 record since March 19 has put the Pelicans on the verge of clinching a postseason berth, while also drastically improving their chances of moving into the top six of the West (or earning a more ideal play-in tournament seed).
Schedule: Tuesday vs. Sacramento; Wednesday vs. Memphis; Friday vs. New York; Sunday at Minnesota
Most important game remaining: Game 82 at Target Center has the potential to be a critical outcome for both teams (as well as other interested parties in the West).
Tiebreakers: The Pelicans have clinched their two-team tiebreakers over Phoenix, the Clippers, Golden State and Oklahoma City. They lose a tiebreaker vs. the Lakers. Game 82 will determine it vs. Minnesota. Tiebreakers vs. Dallas and Utah will be irrelevant if NOLA wins at least one more game, or if the Mavericks and Jazz lose once.
9) MINNESOTA 39-40
A damaging Sunday home loss vs. Portland dropped Minnesota to 1.5 games behind New Orleans. The Timberwolves now cannot be more than one game ahead of the Pelicans entering their Game 82 matchup against them. Conversely, New Orleans has an opportunity to make that April 9 meeting less consequential by winning its next three games, which would create an insurmountable lead over Minny.
Schedule: Tuesday at Brooklyn; Saturday at San Antonio; Sunday vs. New Orleans
Most important game remaining: The season finale against the Pelicans is the obvious choice.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: The season series is deadlocked 1-1, so the Sunday matinee in Minneapolis will decide the tiebreaker.
10) OKLAHOMA CITY 38-41
The Thunder recently appeared headed toward top-six contention in the West, but an 0-2 weekend put their play-in tournament future back in jeopardy. New Orleans is on the verge of clinching a better record than OKC.
Schedule: Tuesday at Golden State; Thursday at Utah; Sunday vs. Memphis
Most important game remaining: OKC is only 1.5 games ahead of Utah, making Thursday’s Northwest Division matchup a potentially critical one for both teams.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: New Orleans won the season series 3-1.
11) DALLAS 37-42
A three-game Dallas losing streak has nearly sealed New Orleans finishing with a better record than the Mavericks. Unless the Pelicans lose out and the Mavericks win out, it’s a done deal.
Schedule: Wednesday vs. Sacramento; Friday vs. Chicago; Sunday vs. San Antonio
Most important game remaining: Trailing OKC by a game and having already lost the tiebreaker to the Thunder, the Mavericks have no margin for error to lose any game. If the Mavs go 2-1, the Thunder would need to be winless for Dallas to surpass OKC.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: It won’t matter unless there is a seven-outcome miracle for Dallas, but the Mavericks would have it, based on division record.
12) UTAH 36-42
The Jazz were the Cinderella story of the West for months, but they’ve tailed off lately, going 3-7 in their last 10 games and dropping much-needed weekend road games in Boston and Brooklyn. Like Dallas, Utah needs four wins and four New Orleans losses to beat out the Pelicans in the standings.
Schedule: Tuesday vs. Lakers; Thursday vs. Oklahoma City; Saturday vs. Denver; Sunday at Lakers
Most important game remaining: Thursday’s home game could be Utah’s last gasp at remaining in the play-in conversation. Aside from that, the Jazz’s slate means they could play a major spoiler role.
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: Utah won season series 3-0.