The Pelicans have never won three in a row this season. It is now done for NOLA with this success against the Blazers which comes after victories against the Thunder and then against the Bucks. Willie Green’s men are on a much better dynamic than their evening opponents who had won twice after seven straight losses.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter of this game that the tide turned in favor of a team. At the break, the premises had turned with a small possession in advance (51-49) after a rather remarkable sequence, in the last minute, of exchange of baskets between Brandon Ingram and Damian Lillard.
With a good passage in attack from Josh Hart, the Pelicans widened the gap at the start of the second act (65-52) but the Blazers had no problem to pick up again to a possession (81-78 ) before the last twelve minutes.
It is here that Nickeil Alexander-Walker will completely catch fire to offer a ten point lead to his team without Damian Lillard, who lost his cool at the end, cannot respond.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s Huge Streak. What a hot stroke! He started his show at the very end of the third quarter by going into penetration to finish with the left hand dunk. It was the starting point of a passage with 13 points in a row straddling the two quarters. Hyper efficient from afar, he scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half.
– The inner domination of the Pelicans. The locals scored 48 points in the opposing racket, 10 more than the Blazers. They also struggled to capture rebounds: 31 catches is their smallest mark this season. With his 16 rebounds, Jonas Valanciunas has recovered almost as much as any of the opposing five …
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Brandon Ingram. Flirting with his first career triple-double, the Pelicans winger was consistent with his mid-range shot throughout the game. He hosed down behind the arc a bit, however, and let three runs off the throw line.
✅ Damian Lillard. The Blazers superstar confirms his rise to power with a third straight game with 32 points or more. The leader becomes again an absolute threat behind the 3-point line on which the opposing defense must concentrate. Flat on this match: his expulsion after two technical faults in the last minutes for having claimed too much for the whistle.
✅ Josh Hart. Constant activity for the Pelicans soldier who gave a lot of defense, especially against Norman Powell. He who has been gaining in offensive regularity lately, he has again shown himself to be very clean in attack.
⛔ Anfernee Simons. Symbol of a bench of the Blazers which has hardly brought anything unlike that opposite, the young back has converted only one of his nine attempts at shots in all the same 31 minutes of play. outputs at more than 20 points, it is declining in this month of December.
THE FOLLOWING
Pelicans (11-21) : trip to Orlando, Thursday.
Blazers (13-19) : reception of the Nets, Thursday.
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