Pelicans (21-12), Pacers (17-17)
The clock was winding down and New Orleans was playing hot potato with the ball, eventually passing it to Naji Marshall, who tossed up a one-footed, off-balance runner from 27 feet at the third-quarter buzzer. Improbably, Marshall’s last-resort prayer banked through the hoop. It was that kind of night for the Pelicans, who did just about everything well, easily overcoming the injury absences of three starters and pummeling the Pacers. Despite not having starters Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones – as well as Dyson Daniels and Trey Murphy, who’ve frequently filled in as starters – New Orleans went up by 19 at halftime and kept expanding its lead. Several Pelicans including Marshall took full advantage of the chance to play more or get more touches in the offense. "Guys getting an opportunity to play is just a blessing, to see the work that they put in with the coaches and our staff," Pelicans second-year head coach Willie Green said of that aspect of Monday's commanding victory.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
CJ McCollum pulled up from well beyond the arc and drained a straightaway three-pointer to give New Orleans an 81-55 edge with three-plus minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Pelicans previously were up by as many as 29 in the same period.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Third-year forward Marshall played the kind of game New Orleans figured to need from some of its role players in order to thrive without several primary offensive weapons. The Xavier (Ohio) product continued to display his improved three-point shot by going 4/9, part of his career-best 22-point night. “We’re just hungry,” Marshall said of the Pelicans being motivated. “We really love the game. We stay in the gym. Everything is basketball for us. (Then) it’s just about making the right reads, being there for your teammates and bringing the energy on defense.”
BY THE NUMBERS
14-4: New Orleans home record. The only two defeats in the Smoothie King Center since mid-November have come against the Eastern Conference’s elite (Boston, Milwaukee).
15-0: New Orleans run at the end of the first quarter, turning an 18-9 deficit into a six-point lead. Indiana started quickly but the Pelicans dominated from there.
+31: Plus-minus for Devonte’ Graham in only 19:55 of action. Prorated to 48 minutes, that equates to the Pelicans outscoring their opponent by roughly 75 points. Graham contributed 11 points, featuring 3/7 three-point accuracy.
REVISITING FANDUEL KEYS TO THE GAME
GROUP PROJECT
A-plus-plus grade. It would be difficult to ask for much more than what the Pelicans did collectively Monday.
THIS TIME, NO INDY .500
Indiana shot 50 percent from the field in its Nov. 7 home win over New Orleans, but the Pelicans were exponentially better at the defensive end this time, holding the Pacers to 35 percent in the first half.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Small lineups are regularly beating bigger ones in the modern NBA, but that trend was flipped in Monday’s interconference matchup. New Orleans consistently put Indiana defenders in suboptimal positions in the paint by feeding the ball to its tallest players, while also dominating the rebounding battle (32-16 in the first half, 54-36 overall).
#PELSPOTWPOLL
A trip to the NBA’s health and safety protocols guaranteed the end of Williamson’s streak of three consecutive times capturing team Player of the Week honors. In Week 10, CJ McCollum was the clear winner of the award, partly based on his 40-point eruption Thursday vs. San Antonio. New Orleans went 2-1 over the seven-day timeframe, also winning at Oklahoma City, but losing vs. Milwaukee. Previous winners were Week 1: Brandon Ingram; Week 2: Naji Marshall; Week 3: Larry Nance Jr.; Week 4, Zion Williamson; Week 5, Trey Murphy; Week 6: Devonte’ Graham; Week 7: Zion Williamson; Week 8, Zion Williamson; Week 9, Zion Williamson.