Pelicans Flock Past Nets 111-91, Close In On 8-Seed

I was strolling down Oak St. on my way for a coffee yesterday when I became keenly aware a mass of airborne commotion was moving overhead. Like a black cloud out of Hitchcock’s The Birds a massive flock of pigeons (or whatever) were all heading the same direction: North. #FLOCKUP

Mar 10, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) tosses the ball during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. New Orleans Pelicans won 111-91. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

On the road, the Pelicans were playing their second game in as many nights – both in states that share a border with Canada. Even worse, they were against Eastern Conference teams with sub-.500 records.

They haven’t been good in either situation this year, sporting a 13-18 away record and a 14-14 record against the Eastern Conference.

But the Pelicans are playing their best basketball of the season, breaking trends on their way to a 111-91 win at the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday night.

New Orleans was in trouble before the game ever started, delayed from arriving at their hotel until 3 am Tuesday morning. They looked like a team who had gotten a bad night’s sleep the at tipoff.

The Nets took advantage, climbing out to a 23-11 lead early. New Orleans looked helpless, starting 2/10 from the field.

Then New Orleans woke up.

They closed the 1st on a 12-2 run, scoring 7/10 to close the Nets lead down to 27-23 at the end of the 1st quarter. The game started to break open for the Pelicans in the second quarter, catching fire to outscore Brooklyn 32-19.

Mar 10, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca (42) drives against Brooklyn Nets center Mason Plumlee (1) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Pels came alive in the first half with a lot of help from the Bench Krewe. Alexis Ajinca was a one man wrecking crew, scoring 13 points in the first half.

He toyed with Brooklyn’s defense, using a variety of jab steps and fakes of the ball to open up just enough space to score on the low post. He finished the night with 17 pts 5 rebs 4 ast and 3 steals in only 23 minutes.

Monty Williams was raving about Ajinca after the game, “He’s delivering for us, making good decisions for us, reading the defense well. He’s gotten such better condition, he’s really taking a pounding down there [in the post].”

New Orleans led 55-46 at halftime

New Orleans dealt the final blows in the third quarter. It felt over after the Pelicans opened the lead to 20, with Anthony Davis emphatically slamming a Norris Cole alley-oop down for a 70-50 lead. The Nets never got back within 10.

Cole got the start tonight, filling in for the injured Tyreke Evans. He responded nicely to the new responsibility, scoring 16 pts on 4-6 shooting from 3. He also grabbed 5 rebounds, dished 4 assists, and nabbed 3 steals.

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Eric Gordon struggled early to an 0-4 start, before rounding out the night with 16 pts and 7 ast on 3-6 shooting from 3-point range.

Omer Asik chipped in another double-double with 12 pts and 15 rebs, without committing a single foul. Anthony Davis left the game after the 3rd quarter, but not before putting up 15 pts 6 rebs 5 ast and 3 blocked shots.

Quincy Poindexter celebrated his 27th birthday by giving the Pelicans a present: 17 pts and 4 ast on 5-6 shooting from 3. He crushed any hopes the Nets had of a comeback, scoring 14 points in the final frame.

If you can’t tell from reading through the box score stats, it was a team effort that led the Pelicans to such a dominating margin of victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

They won the turnover battle, only giving up 10 TOs to Brooklyn’s 12. The ball was moving on offense all night, with New Orleans totalling 31 assists (69% of field goals made).

Since the All Star Game the Pelicans have been 2nd in the league in 3-point shooting %. Tonight they improved on that average, knocking in 12-21 3pt attempts, good for 57%.