Brandon Ingram puts on 2nd-half masterclass in Game 2 vs. the Suns

The playoffs are all about big moments. You make your name as a star player when you perform at high levels when the lights are the brightest. Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans understood the assignment.

When speaking about the game, Coach Green pointed out a simple, yet, glaring issue in game one:

"“We play faster, we have to get into the paint, we have to crash the glass. All things that we did, but we just gotta make some shots.”"

Indeed, the Pelicans shot 37.9 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from long range in game one. The Pelicans hit some shots in the 4th quarter, but what Coach Monte Williams called, “Classic Chris” happened as Chris Paul scored scored 17 straight points. The Pelicans loss by 11 points.

After coming off a mediocre game one, the young Pelicans looked to shake off the first game jitters.

The Pelicans bounce back behind Brandon Ingram

In the first quarter, Brandon Ingram scored 11 points on 57 percent shooting. It was a back and forth quarter between him and Devin Booker who went 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the first quarter himself. In the second, Booker continued his hot streak as Brandon Ingram did not tally a single point in seven minutes of play. Booker hit a three to end the quarter, ending the half with 31 points.

Brandon Ingram broke out in the 3rd quarter, shooting 71 percent from the field and scoring 14 points. However, it was Ingram’s 4th quarter that left a lasting impression.

Ingram finished the 4th with 12 points shooting 66 percent from the field and 100 percent from long range. In fact, Ingram scored the last 10-of-15 Pelicans’ points in the 4th quarter over the final seven minutes.

Phoenix kept the game close without Booker, who left the game in the 3rd quarter with an injury, and even took a lead early in the fourth. However, the Pelicans did what they always do—Fight! Getting big 3’s from Jose Alvarado, Ingram and McCollum, they took an advantage that they wouldn’t relinquish.

Ingram added tough back-to-back jumpers in the closing minutes to keep a final Suns’ rally at bay as New Orleans earned its first playoff win since 2018. Willie Green let Ingram be himself in the 4th:

"“It was amazing, just to see him work. I just stopped calling plays and let him call them.”"

The Pelicans are going back to the Blender 1-1 against the team with the best record in the NBA and Brandon Ingram is showing that he might be the most underrated player in the league.