Three extensions, three defeats! Definitely, the Pelicans have a hard time making the difference in close matches, and tonight they lost 124-121 in Atlanta. It is therefore the 4th defeat of the season for Zion Williamson’s teammates, and three are conceded in the extra period. Last night, they thought they had done the hardest part in the “money time” after recovering a gap of 13 points, to equalize by CJ McCollum then take the advantage by Zion Williamson less than two minutes from the end. But Dejounte Murray, after a solo number, equalized at 109-109 with four seconds left, and Brandon Ingram’s winning shot hit the back of the circle.
In overtime, it was the “big men” of Atlanta who made the difference with two alley-oops from Clint Capela to give a five-point lead (119-114) then this 3-pointer from John Collins in the corner to increase the gap to +6 (122-116). But Herb Jones revives the suspense with a tap, followed by a throw (124-121). Behind, he deflects a ball, and offers an equalizing ball to his teammates. We are waiting for Ingram or McCollum for the shot, but it is Devonte ‘Graham who is found in the corner. He is embarrassed by John Collins. The referees seem to whistle foul to give three throws, before finally whistling the foot on Graham’s line!
In the confusion, Atlanta won 124-121 for a sixth victory in nine games.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Zion Williamson misses the end. Still as powerful, the Zion did a lot of damage to snatch the extension. But then he broke down physically, to the point of leaving a minute from the end. Fortunately nothing serious since it is just cramps. The good news is that he went back-to-back and even broke his season high in points (29).
– Failed heist. Back-to-back, the Pelicans chased the score the entire game, and they only led for two minutes. It was in the “money time” after recovering a gap of 13 points. In the last five minutes, they stifled Trae Young (0 of 5 on shots) to nibble their delay and go ahead. Brandon Ingram will have the victory ball, but his difficult fadeaway will hit the back of the circle.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ Clint Capela. He is the big man of the evening at the Hawks, and he had set the tone from the first quarter. Opposite, there was Jonas Valanciunas, but he dominated him in mobility and in the air with 21 points, 19 rebounds and 4 blocks, 10 of 15 on shots. He already had his double-double in his pocket at halftime.
✅ Dejounte Murray. It was he who snatched overtime with this complicated shot after a number of dribbles, then it was he who scored the first four points of overtime. Young stifled in the “money time”, he took things in hand in attack, while signing a “triple-double”: 22 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds.
✅ The McCollum-Jones pair. Faced with one of the best pairs of backs in the NBA, the New Orleans backcourt held up. CJ McCollum remains a formidable metronome, and he is much more active than at the Blazers. As for Herb Jones, he has become indispensable, and not content with defending well against Trae Young, he has kept hope alive through his activity.
⛔️ The Pelicans bench. 15 points to 5 of 17 on shots for the New Orleans substitutes who did not weigh on the meeting. Only Larry Nance Jr. and Jose Alvarado provided some punch, but it was insufficient, especially in a back-to-back where the starters’ legs were heavy.
THE FOLLOWING
Atlanta (6-3) : reception of the Bucks on Monday
Pelicans (5-4) : trip to Indiana on Monday
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