New Orleans Pelicans: The Night The Losing Stopped
By Tim Burke
New Orleans Pelicans: Biggest highlight, best moment, and biggest takeaway from the game
The biggest highlight was the ferocious dunk Jaxson Hayes threw down at the 6:40 mark in the third quarter.
The play started with Redick and Hayes setting screens near the top of the three-point line for Brandon Ingram. Then Hayes set a pick on Redick’s defender and started to roll to the rim as Ingram drove in from the right elbow. When Hayes’ defender slid over to help on Ingram, Ingram found Hayes near the free throw line with nothing between Hayes and the basket but air. Hayes rose up and slammed it home.
The biggest moment of the game came in the last minute of the third quarter and nearly went unnoticed. It all started when Lonzo Ball threw a crosscourt pass to E’twuan Moore in the top right corner. Moore caught the ball and drove into the paint. As Moore drove, Holiday realized his man was going to help and darted to the corner for a pass. Moore passed the ball to Holiday and he let it fly, nothing but net on the corner three.
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That basket was Holiday’s 554th made three-pointer with the New Orleans Pelicans and he passed Peja Stojakovic as the franchises all-time leader in made three’s.
What was the main takeaway from the game?
The main takeaway was that Brandon Ingram has elevated his game to a whole new level this season. In a game where only three players logged over 30 minutes for the Pelicans (Ingram, Holiday, Redick) and Lonzo Ball and Derrick Favors only played 20 minutes, Ingram came through and showed why he’ll get a max offer when the season is over.
The defense was strong in this game as well. The Pelicans defensive goals for this game were to keep Andrew Wiggins from scoring at ease and forcing him to move the ball. Minnesota shot just 37.9% in the game and New Orleans held a team to below 100 points for the first time this season.