New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for lackluster win over the Pistons

After letting up 39 first quarter points to the last-place Detroit Pistons, I was starting to wonder if the New Orleans Pelicans were going to kill any momentum gained from their big comeback win over Boston.

It took huge nights from Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, along with a 4th quarter collapse by Detroit to dispatch of a Pistons’ team that was on the second game of a back-to-back.

I was hoping for a nose-to-tail blowout, as the Pelicans have a back-to-back of their own, the second game being against the Milwaukee Bucks and could have used some extra rest for their starters.

Instead, they all played over 30 minutes and it took everything they had to beat a Pistons team that didn’t even have its best player on the floor. The Pels are going to end up learning the hard way that you have to bring the intensity every night in the NBA and can’t coast, even against bad, shorthanded teams on short rest.

But a win is a win and there were a lot of positives against the Detroit Pistons, though defense was not one of them.

Let’s take a look at the grades for another huge night of offense for the New Orleans Pelicans.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons: Grade for Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball has been red-hot of late, hitting more than 50 percent of his 3-point shots over the last 13 games and even increasing his free-throw attempts and percentage.

He was also one of the only Pelicans who showed up on defense, grabbing three steals to add to his 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

He only turned the ball over twice, which is a good sign, as he had six in the last game against the Celtics.

The Pelicans usually go as Lonzo goes, and he was +16 for the night to lead the team.