Pelicans Reactions: New Orleans fumbles final possession, falls to Bucks in shootout
The Pelicans came up just short offensively in a national TV shootout with the Bucks on Thursday, falling 129-125.
After matching each other point for point for most of the night to the tune of 23 lead changes and 15 ties, it was New Orleans that faltered last offensively. Trailing by three with 14.7 seconds remaining, the Pelicans forced a turnover of Khris Middleton but failed to put up a potential tying shot – or any shot at all – before Brandon Ingram committed an offensive foul with 2.6 seconds left that effectively ended the game.
The Pelicans excelled again offensively, led by Zion Williamson’s 34 points. Brandon Ingram had 23 points, Lonzo Ball added 20 and Eric Bledsoe 16. For Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points.
The Good: LonZion? ZoinZo?
The nickname needs some work but the pairing was impressive on Thursday. The deeper dive on Ball will come below but the two of them combined for 54 points on 22-of-40 (55%) shooting. The rest of the Pelicans on the night went 29-for-69 (42%) for 71. Bledsoe and Ingram finished 5-of-20 from the 3-point line and outside of Ball's 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point range, the rest of the Pelicans shot 7-for-29 (24.1%). Williamson, specifically, showed out on the night, finishing with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Milwaukee tried a number of players on him and none of them could remotely slow him down on the night. Honorable mentions: The Giannis-Zion jersey swap after the game
The Bad: Defense
The Pelicans' current run of positive form has had little to do with a defensive change and more to do with the offense simply playing at an absurd level. As was the case on Thursday when Milwaukee and New Orleans basically just had a 48-minute shootout. Through three quarters, the Pelicans scored 103 points (great!) and allowed 103 points (terrible!). All five Bucks starters finished in double figures. As a team, Milwaukee shot over 50% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line. As has been the case much of the past two weeks - and the season as a whole - a string of defensive stops completely changes the outlook of the game. Honorable mentions: That final Pelicans offensive possession
Lonzo Ball: Showing out on national television
The stage didn't bother Ball on the night as his hot shooting continued. By going 6-of-10 from the 3-point line, Ball is now shooting 67-for-145 (46.2%) from 3-point territory in his last 18 games. On Thursday, he finished with 20 points, five assists and four rebounds with a steal in 35 minutes of action. As mentioned above, he and Williamson were the only starters to provide an efficient scoring punch on the night, though it didn't stop New Orleans from scoring 125 points.
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