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Andrew LopezESPN
NEW ORLEANS – Coming off the heels of a historic meltdown on Friday night, things again seemed to be trending in the wrong direction for the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday afternoon.
The Pelicans watched the Boston Celtics increase their lead to 24 points in the middle of the third quarter, and it looked like the Pelicans were on their way to another disappointing defeat.
But, instead of doubling and withering as they have done several times this season, New Orleans responded.
And he did it using something that was porous for much of the season – his defense.
From the 6:29 mark of the third quarter to the end of overtime, New Orleans held Boston with just 36 points with 32% shooting while the Pelicans returned to complete the biggest recovery in the franchise’s history with a 120-115 win.
“It was a huge victory for us. We remain true to who we were,” said Pelican striker Zion Williamson. “We recovered. Everyone, the coaches, the players, the players on the ball, everyone was just engaged. We needed all that energy and we got over it.”
That energy level was – perhaps – in a low season on Friday. Pelicans carried an 11 point lead in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns and lost by 18 points. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the biggest defeat in the shooting clock era for a team that entered the fourth period with double digits.
Although his defense failed, it is something that the Pelicans were able to rely heavily on against Boston, led by guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart.
“Me and J-Hart, we are looked at to protect the stars of the other team practically night after night,” said Ball. “We just did our best to slow these guys down as best we could. It’s not just two guys guarding the ball. We were all together on that side of the ball.”
And although the attack was led by the defense, the Pelicans also had to rely on their two stars to finish things on the offensive side. With the Celtics winning 106-105 with 10.5 seconds to play, Pelicans had to make a move to take the lead. Two games after Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy chose to let Brandon Ingram catch the ball in his last possession in the loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, he went to Williamson this time. Williamson took the ball off an Ingram screen and feigned a transfer to Ball. He hit Tristan Thompson straight, missing when the tray was hit.
“It means a lot to me,” said Williamson of catching the ball at that point. “That’s what every player works hard to be in those moments. … [Assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon] especially. When she saw that I was frustrated in the first half, she came to me and gave me a lot of words about trust. Means a lot.
“They are all looking at me at that moment, like, ‘We are with you. Whatever decision you make, we are with you.’ Having people behind me like that means a lot. “
Williamson said Ingram was the last person who said anything to him out of the huddle before the move, but Ingram did his best to minimize his role.
“I don’t think he needed any extra encouragement,” said Ingram. “He made a basketball move that we believe in and hit the kick.”
Extra encouragement or not, it worked. But the job was not done for New Orleans, as Celtics striker Jayson Tatum made a bucket to send the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, this time it was Ingram’s turn to shine.
With the game tied at 112 with 50.1 to play, Pelicans striker Nicolo Melli and Celtics center Daniel Theis were called in for a double lane violation in an Ingram free-throw attempt. That meant a high ball in the center circle between Williamson and Celtics striker Robert Williams.
Williamson won the tip and eventually recovered the ball at the top of the bracket. While he was driving, the defense collapsed and Williamson kicked the ball to Ingram, who dropped a 3-point basket with 34.4 seconds remaining.
“Whenever I’m in pick-and-roll as the ball handler, I try to make the best reading,” said Williamson. “I think in that situation, after reaching the basket a few times, I read that they were going to collapse. As soon as they collapsed, Brandon is a knockdown sniper. He was there, so I made the pass. . “
The victory came at a very necessary time for New Orleans, who had lost five of six games.
Ingram said the comeback itself is what encourages him most, and it looks like something the Pelicans could use to put their season back on track.
“I think we can conclude that we are very, very good when we are together,” said Ingram. “The guys talked tonight. Everyone on the bench was talking. The coaches were communicating with the players and we had a good response.”