CJ McCollum continued his hot streak and the New Orleans Pelicans got a much-needed win against the Phoenix Suns to claw closer to the play-in tournament.
The win put the Pelicans just a game behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the 10th position after the Blazers were routed by the Warriors. The Lakers also lost last night, so the Pels inched al little closer to them as well.
It was another amazing game for CJ McCollum who has averaged 29 points, six rebounds and 5.1 assists since being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans just before the deadline.
It appears as though the Pelicans are starting to gel and answer some of the questions we had about this team down the stretch.
Here are three takeaways from a nice road win over the Suns.
CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram go off
This was really the first game that Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum have gone off in the same night, as they combined for 60 points and carried the New Orleans Pelicans.
If this duo can continue to build chemistry, the Pels are going to be tough to stop (especially when Zion Williamson returns) as both can handle the ball, initiate the offense, set up teammates or get their own shot, leaving defenses to choose their poison when it comes to double teaming.
They had 11 combined assists and just three turnovers, and if this continues, it will allow the Pelicans to keep Jaxson Hayes in the starting lineup and bring guards Devonte’ Graham and Jose Alvarado off the bench, which should hopefully open up their games as well.
It has taken a few games but BI and CJ are figuring it out and could be one of the NBA’s most-effective duos down the stretch.
The New Orleans Pelicans bench
I’ve been writing about the bench all season, and it continues to be an issue for the New Orleans Pelicans, who need more consistency.
The Pels desperately need someone outside their top four guys to step up and last night may have offered a glimpse of who it is going to be.
Tony Snell, who was an afterthought in the McCollum trade, played 25 effective minutes for the Pelicans last night, scoring nine points, adding seven rebounds and providing a 3-point threat.
Most importantly, he kept Garrett Temple out of the rotation, something that has needed to happen for a long time, but didn’t because coach Willie Green didn’t trust young wings Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy III.
Hopefully Snell can continue to provide that veteran presence and 3-point shooting off the bench.
Devonte’ Graham and Jose Alvarado split minutes at backup guard and were an effective combination, ending the game with a +21 combined net rating.
The Pelicans won the bench battle last night but Willie Green is obviously still trying to figure out his rotations, though things might be a little clearer now.
The New Orleans Pelicans lived at the free-throw line
New Orleans shot just 27 percent from 3-point range last night, and usually when that happens the result is not a win.
The Pelicans were able to make it up at the free-throw line, where they took a whopping 41 attempts last night, making 33 of them for 80.5 percent.
The Suns only went to the line 24 times and made 18 of them, so that differential was the difference in the game.
Both CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram shot 11 apiece, making 18-of-22 and Devonte’ Graham went 5-of-5 from the bench.
New Orleans has not been a good shooting team this season, and while that should improve somewhat with the addition of McCollum, getting to the free-throw line will be crucial down the stretch for the Pels.
The Pels are currently 5th in the NBA in free-throw attempts per game, and that’s without Zion, so this will be a big weapon for them now and when they are finally at full strength.