Pelicans Consider 106-103 Loss to Hornets a Lesson Learned

The New Orleans Pelicans failed to get a shot off in the final seconds of a road loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

Chris Dodson | Mar 21, 2022

Pelicans Consider 106-103 Loss to Hornets a Lesson Learned /

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The New Orleans Pelicans failed to get a shot off in the final seconds of a 106-103 road loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Coach Willie Green “thought it looked good” but the team still fell back into 10th place in the Western Conference.

Charlotte swarmed CJ McCollum on the final inbounds play. His late pass out of the double-team left Devonte’ Graham no time to get a settled shot to try and sent the game to overtime.

Green admitted in the post-game press conference Graham was still feeling the sores of a long regular season. Still, it was a tough loss for the resurgent Pelicans, and a particularly rough game for Graham (2 points, 24 minutes).

Mar 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green (right) talks with guards Jose Alvarado (15) and CJ McCollum (3) during a timeout in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

McCollum explained after the game, “It wasn’t great spacing. I have to make a quicker decision. I didn’t have a good passing angle. Should’ve pump faked it. But credit them. They sent a double.”

The Pelicans led from 8:25 in the first quarter until P.J. Washington’s hook shot with 92 seconds left in the game. LaMelo Ball’s floater with eight seconds left sealed the win for the Hornets. Green complimented Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy III, and Jose Alvarado’s exceptional play as a reason for optimism despite the loss.

Mar 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Willy Hernangomez (9) dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Green said, “I thought our young guy came out and played a really great game. It’s nice to see our guys come in and just have growth…It’s been a season of adjustments…I thought it looked good for the most part, we just came up short.”

It did not help that New Orleans went almost five minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter. Pair that with an inability to get stops late and it feels like a wasted night for Valancuinas. He controlled the paint and stretched the floor in pouring in 24 points and grabbing 18 rebounds.

The Pelicans built a lead in the third quarter, but the ejection of Herb Jones meant the Pelicans could not get a stop when they needed to down the stretch. Lamelo Ball got the switch to Jaxson Hayes and waltz to the rim, a three-point lead, and the win.

Mar 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) goes up for a basket defended by Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee (24) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Naji Marshall said of Jones' ejection after a review, "We definitely felt like if anything it was a flagrant 1. We definitely tried to get the W for him."

New Orleans has two nights to rest before starting a three-game homestand against the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers. The Pelicans went 2-1 on their road trip and are starting to peak.

They will need at least two wins at home to jump back into the ninth seed and the right to host the NBA Playoffs Play-in game.

They should this team get Brandon Ingram back in the rotation soon though. With that hope on the horizon, this is not a loss that hurts their playoff chances, but it is one to learn from for Green’s squad.

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Published Mar 21, 2022

CHRIS DODSON