Pelicans (20-12), Thunder (14-19)
Friday’s trip for a back-to-back in Oklahoma City was not for the faint of heart, a harrowing experience filled with peaks and valleys from a New Orleans perspective. Ultimately, the Pelicans were able to pull off a late fourth-quarter comeback and outplay the Thunder slightly in overtime, sweeping a back-to-back against Western Conference foes. OKC needed to overcome an 18-point halftime deficit, but dominated a long stretch of the third and fourth quarters, looking in position to prevail, before New Orleans managed to get the game to an extra period in clutch time. Herb Jones was crucial with 11 fourth-quarter points, including a tying layup in the final seconds off a scoop assist by CJ McCollum.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
As time ticked down in OT, Oklahoma City missed a pair of shots in the paint down by three points, leading to a Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound and Thunder immediate foul. Hayes stepped to the line at the other end with 2.7 ticks left, but missed both free throws. Just in the nick of time, the ball trickled out to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who fired a deep three-pointer from the left wing, but the shot hit the rim and bounded away, sealing the victory for the Pelicans. “I was praying it didn’t go in,” Hayes said of SGA’s attempt at a tie. “I missed both of my free throws – I need to work on them, so that that last shot doesn’t even matter. I’m just happy we got the W. It was a little messy, but we’ve got guys out. We scrapped our way and won the game.”
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Hayes has been in the unenviable position all season of trying to carve out a role in one of the NBA’s deepest frontcourts, stuck behind quality veterans. He seized the opportunity Friday and then some to be in the rotation for a second straight night (after an extended stretch of inactivity), scoring 21 points on 8/9 shooting from the field. “I said to Jaxson that everybody is extremely proud of what he just did tonight on the floor,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said. “It’s difficult to not play and stay ready… We don’t get that win without Jaxson Hayes.”
BY THE NUMBERS
3: Weeks since New Orleans had won a road game prior to Friday, due to an 0-3 trip in the middle of December. The next three Pelicans contests are all in the Smoothie King Center, where they have been outstanding at 13-4.
3: Quarters in which the Pelicans scored 30-plus points Friday, making a 16-point third quarter stand out like a sore thumb. An offensive drought allowed the Thunder to go from down 18 to down three in rapid fashion.
16: Total points Hayes had scored this season prior to Friday and his 21-point game in 28 minutes of action. He had not logged more than 13 minutes in a game all season before his timely performance in Paycom Center.
REVISITING FANDUEL KEYS TO THE GAME (CHRISTMAS EDITION)
GIVING THE GIFT OF BUCKETS
CJ McCollum poured in 40 points Thursday vs. San Antonio, but was much quieter Friday, finishing with 17 on 5/18 shooting. However, he came up with the assist that send it to overtime, then canned a vital three-pointer as New Orleans grabbed a multi-possession lead.
’TIS THE SEASON FOR MORE MINUTES
Several Pelicans appeared poised to capitalize on larger roles for a second night in a row, but that faded a bit after intermission. The bench held a significant scoring edge over the Thunder, with a big chunk of that via 26 first-half points. Hayes, Naji Marshall, Jose Alvarado and Devonte’ Graham started quickly as New Orleans went up 64-46 at the break.
DON’T LET SGA BECOME THE GRINCH
Gilgeous-Alexander followed up his 31-point game in New Orleans last month with 44 on Friday, shooting 17/29 from the field. The Pelicans did a better job of not sending him to the foul line, as he went 7/9 there. He nearly pulled off a magic trick at the end of OT, but the Pelicans escaped with a three-point win and had a much happier flight to NOLA.
#PELICANSFRIDAY
New Orleans won’t be part of Sunday’s five-game Christmas slate, but there are probably plenty of Pelicans fans who believe the squad should be featured. In a Twitter poll, voters were asked “If you were to make a case that the Pelicans should’ve been part of the Dec. 25 schedule, how would you lead your presentation?” The top response among three options was the “full highlight reel” New Orleans generates (43 percent of ballots), making it one of the NBA’s most exciting teams. The club’s core of young talent was next (32 percent).