The New Orleans Pelicans entered Sunday night’s game against the Houston Rockets with a chance to take control of their playoff destiny thanks to the Indiana Pacers defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unfortunately though, things were not meant to be.
The Rockets used 30 points from James Harden and a big fourth quarter run to send the Pelicans to a loss meaning that New Orleans still sets dead even with the Thunder with two games left in the season.
Other Observations:
- The Pelicans were the victim of some really bad luck officiating tonight. I know Harden gets calls every night, but it was just felt like he got the benefit of the calls most of the time. Blatant calls were missed, and the Pelicans did the best they could to respond every time, but it wasn’t enough.
- Offensively the team really clicked for most of the game. It seems like guys are starting to be really comfortable around each other and run to the correct spots at the right times.
- Having Jrue and Ryno back does nothing but raise our team’s ceiling. Great to have them back.
- Westbrook got his 16th technical foul of the season tonight, which means as of now he is suspended for tomorrow night’s game. That would be big time news for the Pelicans, and it also prompted quite a tweet from Kevin Durant.
- No need to panic because of this loss. The Pels hung with Houston for the whole game, just had a few breaks not go their way. The magic number is still 2, and we are finally at full strength at the right time.
More from Pelican Debrief
- How will the Pelicans round out rotation without Trey Murphy III
- Why you can’t blame Brandon Ingram for all Team USA’s failures
- Ranking 10 worst starters of the Anthony Davis era
- New Orleans Pelicans avoid potential disaster with latest injury reports
- 4 Most underrated players on New Orleans Pelicans current roster