The New Orleans Pelicans found victory tonight in Portland against the Blazers, in their final game of the 2016-2017 NBA season.
Last night would be the final game of the New Orleans Pelicans 2016-2017 season.
What a better way to finish than with a victory?
New Orleans would overcome a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter to defeat the Blazers. The Pelicans held Portland to just 15 points in the final frame, after giving up 30 points or more in the first and third quarters.
This is a big moral boost going into the new season. In a game the youngsters could have checked out of, they fought back and showed up big. Portland had the crowd by their side, much similar to the situation the Lakers loss. However, the New Orleans’ grit helped them shut down Portland’s offense and gain the lead late.
The Blazers’ inability to score was the highlight of the final minutes. Portland scored just seven points in the final eight minutes of tonight’s game. The 19-7 Pelicans run in that time would be the deciding factor.
New Orleans was led by Jordan Crawford in the scoring department. Crawford put up 15 points on 6-12 shooting and hit three long-range looks.
Cheick Diallo also put up a monster game, with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. The Pelicans as a whole showed great balance in scoring tonight. New Orleans had six players in double-digits, while all 11 players who saw the floor made at least one shot.
Shabazz Napier led the Blazers, with 25 points on 10-18 shooting and four rebounds.
Next: New Orleans Pelicans Analysis: DeMarcus Cousins, A.K.A. Boogie is King
That’s it folks. The season is over. Thank you to all the fans who have trucked through this New Orleans Pelicans’ season. The next one is going to be exciting and fun to watch. Make sure to stay updated on Pelican Debrief, as we’ll have offseason news and updates from now until the first regular season game in October. For now, let’s give the Pelicans the rest they’ve earned after an exciting win on the road Wednesday night.