Pelicans Bench Play is Stellar in Win Over Raptors

With Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson out with injuries, it was up to Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans to at least compete with one of the East’s best teams in the Toronto Raptors (37-19).

And boy did they fail.

The Pelicans (29-27) fell behind by as much as 18, and it seemed that not even a complete 180 from the starting backcourt could save the team.

Fortunately for them the New Orleans bench put on a show so good, it could have stolen the Best Picture Oscar from Birdman.

Alexis Ajinca started the show with a solid 10 points in the first half. Alexis got off to a slow start, but he did not let it frustrate him. The Pels only managed 44 first half points, so every point the Frenchman provided was much appreciated.

Ajinca’s game was not without its faults. He racked up five turnovers and five fouls, trends that have plagued him for his entire career. Despite these mistakes, the heart and production proved to be crucial.

Feb 23, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca (42) shoots over Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson (15) during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Raptors 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Both Ajinca and Omer Asik had many easy looks produced by guard Norris Cole. Many of these shots had the same formula: Cole flew down the court, penetrated the three point line and made a slick pass right to his big man.

Creating easy offense has been difficult this season for the jump shot heavy Pels, so it has definitely been nice to see Cole press the issue when he is on the floor.

Davis’ presence around the paint was sorely missed tonight. Toronto was relentlessly banging the ball inside all night, and tough bodies like those of Amir and James Johnso and Kyle Lowry thrive in that area.

Even the more lanky Demar Derozan is tough to handle when he gets too deep.

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Another plus of this physicality is that this Raptors team ranked third in the NBA in free throw percentage. Despite shooting almost double the amount of shots from the charity stripe with 31, free throws proved to be their downfall.

In the third quarter, the Raptors missed 6 straight free throws, just enough to keep the Pelicans’ hopes alive.

Norris Cole started a nice run for the Pels in the fourth quarter. He hit a tough mid range look before hitting the first of back to back threes with Tyreke Evans.

Cole then forced the Raptors to call a timeout after converting a layup off of a turnover, cutting the Toronto lead to 79-77 with nine minutes to play.

Dumb mistakes once against deflated the Pelicans run, as a Dante Cunningham turnover and a foul on a three pointer from Luke Babbitt quickly pushed the lead back to seven.

Feb 23, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Norris Cole (30) shoots against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Norris Cole did all he could to keep his new team afloat. Before the fourth quarter, he only had 2 points.

By the end of the game, he had 15.

Not only was he scoring, but he was audible enough on the defensive end that his calls were heard through the television set.

His hard work on both ends and his ability to convert down the stretch are no fluke. If his time in Miami can tell us anything it is that the points may not always come, but the heart will always be there.

With the Pels once again down by two, Luke Babbitt took the next two shots of the game. Both of these shots were from downtown, and both of them hit the mark.

The first gave the Pels their first lead of the game, and the second extended it to four.

Tonight was definitely Babbitt’s best game as a Pelican. He finished with 18 points on 7-9 shooting from the field and 4-5 from behind the arc.

Since he joined the team, I have been irrationally supportive of Babbitt. Whether it was the hair or the stroke from deep I am not sure, but I will savor this night nonetheless!

After a few traded baskets, New Orleans was up by one with about 30 seconds left. Right on cue, Tyreke Evans launched a repulsive mid range jumper to give Toronto the ball back.

Omer Asik then wonderfully thwarted Kyle Lowry’s attempt down low, giving the Pels possession with about 6 seconds left. Jimmer Fredette, who did not get off the bench all game, rose to the occasion and knocked down two extremely clutch free throws to seal the game.

Omer Asik deserves as much credit as anyone for this win. His relentless work on the defensive end and even on the offensive end tonight surpassed his 14 points and 10 rebounds. Asik’s productivity is not always visible, but tonight it was finally in the spotlight.

The Pels played with a fire beneath them that had yet to be unleashed this season. Even with Gordon and Evans struggling, the rest of the team stepped up to finish off a fantastic comeback, and earn a great win.

The Pelicans take on the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

Next: Pelicans Trade Salmons, Get Norris Cole from the Heat

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