New Orleans was without its All-Star forward and No. 1 overall draft pick, but the Pelicans still found a way to win on the road. For the 10th time in its last 14 games, New Orleans emerged victorious in an away game, outplaying Indiana in the final few minutes, with its guards connecting on a series of baskets to take control. Despite not having leading scorer Brandon Ingram or second-leading point producer Zion Williamson, the Pelicans tallied 60-plus points in both halves.
“I would say that this is our best team win from the standpoint of I think everyone contributed at some stage and gave us a lift,” Alvin Gentry said of winning without two major offensive weapons, while facing an Indiana team that’s a lock to make the playoffs and a threat to advance. “From that standpoint and the quality of opponent that we had, I would say that that was a really good win.”
“We have a complete team,” point guard Lonzo Ball said, alluding to the depth that’s helped New Orleans win even while short-handed in recent weeks. “It’d be nice to have everybody to play with. The nights that we don’t, we need guys to step up and keep finding ways to win.”
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Jrue Holiday bagged a stepback three-pointer from the left wing to give New Orleans an eight-point lead with 44 seconds left. Indiana missed a jumper on the ensuing possession, putting the Pelicans in prime position to prevail. Holiday was monumental in the fourth quarter, piling up 17 points and dropping in multiple pivotal hoops in the final minutes.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
New Orleans probably would’ve had little to no chance of prevailing Saturday without the work of shooting guard JJ Redick, who led the Pelicans early by springing off the bench and immediately draining buckets. Redick totaled 23 points on 7/15 shooting, mostly in the first three quarters. Meanwhile, Holiday led New Orleans with 31 points and brought the visitors into the winner's circle late.
BY THE NUMBERS
44.7: Combined season scoring average of Ingram and Williamson.
17: Holiday fourth-quarter points, nearly half of the 36 New Orleans tallied in that period. Jrue finished with a 2-0 season sweep of brothers Justin and Aaron of the Pacers.
53-37: New Orleans rebounding advantage, led by Derrick Favors’ 11 boards. Incidentally, the Pelicans’ bench outrebounded their Pacers counterparts 14-4.
#SATURDAYSCORER
For all 14 Saturday games throughout New Orleans’ regular season, we’ll be selecting a Pelicans player we think will most exceed his season scoring average for that day’s game. Daniel Sallerson picked Nicolo Melli, while Jim Eichenhofer took E’Twaun Moore. In a fan poll among four other candidates, Lonzo Ball was chosen. The 11th Saturday contest was won by the fans, after Ball scored 15 points and topped his season average by 3.2, making the standings: Daniel 4, Jim 4, Fans 3. Sallerson and Eichenhofer could not repeat a player among any of the first seven Saturday games, which is also the case for Saturday games 8-14.
Recent winners
Jan. 4 at Sacramento, Jim – Lonzo Ball (Daniel: E’Twaun Moore; Fans: Brandon Ingram)
Jan. 11 at Boston, Jim – Jaxson Hayes (Daniel: Nickeil Alexander-Walker; Fans: Lonzo Ball)
Jan. 18 vs. LA Clippers, Daniel – Derrick Favors (Jim: Brandon Ingram; Fans: Lonzo Ball)
Remaining Saturday games
March 14 at LA Clippers
March 21 at Memphis
April 11 vs. Philadelphia