On Sunday, the New Orleans Pelicans were handed a 124-108 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. Their prior losses to the Lakers during the season (namely the 133-89 drubbing in the In Season Tournament) made it imperative on Tuesday that the Pelicans play up to their potential as they saught to advance as the 7th seed.
That they did, in a game that saw them go on a big time fourth quarter run, only to see the game end in heartbreaking fashion.
The Lakers came strong out of the gate, with D’Angelo Russell, who scored 21 points in the game including five three-pointers, hitting from deep early on. Anthony Davis, who ended the game with 20 points and 15 rebounds, made his presence known inside. The Lakers looked together and solid, while the Pelicans were misfiring and did not look like they could muster much offensively after a first quarter that saw both teams play at a fast pace.
Trailing 60-50 at halftime and 73-55 inside the seven minute mark of the third quarter, it looked like the Pelicans was finished, that it might be a repeat of Sunday’s contest. However, the home team did a great job defending as well as attacking on offense and hitting open shots to close the gap, going on a 19-8 run over the last 5:29 of the third to cut the deficit to seven, 83-76, after three quarters. Williamson was fantastic in the third, attacking and finishing inside. He scored 11 in the frame. Defensive standout Jose Alvarado, who came up lame after a drive to the basket, fought through an ankle to hit timely threes in the fourth.
After Brandon Ingram, who made just four-of-12 shots in the game and sat down the stretch, missed a jump shot that would have got the Pelicans within single digits, Davis rebounded his own miss and finished on a reverse layup inside. With 8:30 remaining and Williamson resting, the Lakers held a 91-80 lead.
Williamson enters the game with 7:38 to go, and immediately made an impact. Driving right against Davis, Williamson scored off the glass for his 33rd point. At the other end, Davis missed inside against Larry Nance Jr., and Trey Murphy drilled a deep triple to cut the deficit to six, 91-85. After Williamson hit on a free-throw, he blocked James on a drive, and Alvarado hit a three-pointer from near the same spot as Murphy, making it a two-point game. Austin Reaves scored a scoop layup with 5:21 remaining that stopped a 9-0 Pelicans run.
On the next Pelican possession, Alvarado drove and found Williamson on a baseline cut, who dunked the ball home. 93-91 with five minutes to go.
James and Reaves missed from deep on consecutive possessions, and Alvarado found Williamson on a lob for a ferocious alley-oop, the Pelicans tying the game with 3:53 to go.
After David scored inside, the game shifted.
On the ensuing possession, Williamson, with the ball up top, drove inside on Davis and lofted the ball in with his left hand for his 40th point. Williamson, however, came down awkwardly after the score, threw the front of his jersey over his head in frustration, and left the floor. He did not return, and that is where things changed.
With Ingram, who had struggled all game, and Williamson now out, the Pelicans stayed in it, a driving Murphy floater tying the game at 99 with two minutes to go. On the next Pelicans’ possession, Alvarado threw the ball away to Russell, and Davis converted an alley-oop from Reaves. Nance, fouled inside at the other end, made one free throw, cutting the deficit to one, 101-100. Russell, as he had in the first quarter, drilled a corner triple that put the Lakers ahead 104-100 with 50.3 seconds to go. McCollum responded with an inside jumper, but after James missed badly on a baseline fadeaway, Davis cleaned up the mess and was fouled. David connected on both, providing the Lakers with enough cushion to get the four point win.
Williamson’s exit not only was major in the game, allowing Davis ample opportunities at rebounds as the Pelicans went with a lineup of Alvarado, Herb Jones, Murphy, Dyson Daniels and Nance, but looms as the Pelicans await Friday’s game which will be for the eight seed and the right to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Williamson played one of, if not the best, game of his career when the lights were brightest. 40 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists on 17-for-27 from the field. If he is unable to go in the Pelicans next game, they more than likely will not advance.
McCollum struggled, making just four shots on 15 attempts and hitting just one of nine three-point tries. Murphy (12 points) and Alvarado and Nance (10 points each) were big factors off the bench for the Pelicans.
For the Lakers, James was just 6-for-20, but did finish with a line of 23/9/9 while converted all 10 of his free-throw attempts. Reaves scored 16 and Rui Hachimura also scored in double figures with 13. Gabe Vincent led the Lakers’ bench scoring with 9.
The Pelicans outrebounded the Lakers 50-41 and outshot them 46 percent to 42 percent, but the Lakers shot 29 free-throws to their 15. The Lakers also connected on 14 triples, while the Pelicans hit nine.
The Lakers will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round, with Game 1 on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. The Lakers are looking to avenge that season’s Western Conference Finals sweep.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, will face the Sacramento Kings on Friday for a chance at the eighth seed. For Williamson’s sake, it would be great if the injury is not serious and he can play in that game. This season, he played 69 games (the most of his career) and played great in Tuesday’s game.
Comments