About what happened last night is a great segway into explaining the Pelicans vs Portland game. However, other key losses are keeping the Pelicans in fifth place.
The Pelicans are still recovering from last nights 107-103 loss to the Portland Trailblazers. The Pelicans led the Blazers 75-71 after the third quarter. Damian Lillard had 21 points and Anthony Davis had 20 points. All signs indicated that NOLA had control of the game, it’s pace and dictating their will on the Blazers.
Then the fourth quarter happened. Lillard scored 20 points and lifted the Blazers to the win. Following the contest, Lillard took a private jet back to Portland to be with his girlfriend as she gave birth to his first child.
This loss stings just a bit for the Pelicans. The Pelicans had a chance to win the season series with the Blazers 3-1. This would have given the Blazers their 29th loss of the season and also kept the Pelicans even with the OKC Thunder in the standings. Now, the Pelicans are one game behind the OKC Thunder who is set to play the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
The San Antonio Spurs are limping to the finish line of the regular season. For one, Kawhi Leonard is still not playing, and last night, LaMarcus Aldridge left the game against Washington with a knee injury. The Spurs have sunken to the bottom of the Western Conference standings during the month of March.
However, they have battled enough to maintain the number six spot for now. With Utah and Minnesota threatening, the Spurs better hope that Aldridge doesn’t miss extended time. If he does, the Spurs could be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
The Western Conference Playoff Race
There are two teams on the outside looking into to the Western Conference Playoff race. The Los Angeles Lakers were the latest team to be eliminated following a 112-106 loss to Detroit on Monday. The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets are both still in position to sneak into the race.
Last night both the Clippers and Nuggets were in action. The Clippers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks at home 105-98. The Denver Nuggets dropped a much-needed victory at home against the Toronto Raptors. Of these two teams, I can’t see Denver making the playoffs. Denver is two games behind Minnesota for the eighth spot. The Clippers remain the wild card as they are only a half-game behind Minnesota.
Related Story: The Pelicans could play OKC in the first-round
In other news from the Western Conference, Golden State Warriors Small forward Kevin Durant will return to game action on Thursday when the Warriors host Milwaukee. Durant has missed six games with rib soreness.
Klay Thompson who has also missed six games with a right thumb fracture is expected to return next week. Finally, Draymond Green is questionable on Thursday with flu-like symptoms. Green has missed the last four games for Golden State.
There are some key games to watch before the Pelicans take on the Cavaliers this Friday. Tonight, Portland is in Memphis without Damian Lillard. Minnesota is hosting Atlanta, Utah is hosting Boston, and the Clippers are on the road in Phoenix.
Next: NOLA falls to Portland 107-103
Tomorrow’s NBA action that affects the New Orleans Pelicans features Oklahoma City on the road in San Antonio (possibly without LaMarcus Aldridge) and the Milwaukee Bucks against the Golden State Warriors. The Pelicans and the fans should be cheering against OKC in hopes of securing home-court advantage through the first-round of the playoffs.