Banged up Pelicans win over Warriors behind depth

Playing with seven of their primary rotation players sidelined Sunday night with various injuries, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Golden State Warriors at the Smoothie King Center, 108-100. The victory was the third in the last five games for New Orleans.

JJ Redick led the Pelicans with 26 points. He made 6-of-11 three pointers against the Warriors, continuing a sizzling stretch of shooting that has seen him convert 28 of his 55 attempts in the month of November.

Jrue Holiday flirted with a triple-double, posting with 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Holiday struggled to put the ball in the basket for most of the game, making only four of his first 16 shot attempts, but put it together down the stretch. In the fourth quarter he attacked the rim repeatedly. His 12 points down the stretch were a big reason the Pelicans were able to pull out the win.

But, the story for the Pelicans has to be the performance of the players who have had to step in for the likes of Brandon Ingram, Derrick Favors, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart.

Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and even the much-maligned Nicolo Melli played their best basketball of the young season this weekend. They have taken advantage of the opportunity to play meaningful minutes, something that can only benefit the players and the team in the weeks to come.

“I don’t think anything can take the place of experience of being in the game and learning from your mistakes or just figuring out what you can do to help the team in a positive standpoint,” said Alving Gentry. “Hopefully this is going to be something that helps us down the road because when we do get healthy and all the players get back then I think our depth will help even more because these guys won’t be put into situations where they have to play 25 to 35 minutes, they’ll be back to a normal role that they would be accustomed to anyways.”

Against the Warriors, Jaxson Hayes put together his best effort of his young career. Hayes had his first career start and his first career double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He blocked three shots, and most importantly, the baby faced big man stayed on the floor. He was able to play a season-high 32 minutes while committing only two personal fouls.

List of players (8) who put up at least 10 rebounds and 3 blocks during their rookie season in the last 15 years: Embiid, KAT, Mirotic, Brook Lopez, Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Emeka Okafor and Jaxson Hayes.

— Trevor Ritchie (@ritchietmr) November 18, 2019

In nine previous games, the rookie out of Texas had averaged roughly one foul for every five minutes he spent on the court.

Hayes stuck to what he does best, being active and athletic. He isn’t ready for full-time responsibilities against starting NBA centers yet, but to see him take advantage of the extended playing time was very encouraging.

Jaxson Hayes sent it into the stands 🖐🏼 #nba #pelicans #NBArooks #gsw #strengthinnumbers pic.twitter.com/7P5XeZKpae

— standoutsportz (@standoutsportz) November 18, 2019

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has 46 points in his last two games, putting up 19 against Golden State after scoring 27 in Miami on Saturday. In his previous 11 games, the rookie had a total of 52.

He’s doubled his number of three pointers made in that same span, going from nine to 18 after tonight.

When Alexander-Walker first took the floor for the Pelicans during Summer League, it looked like he could be an immediate impact player for the franchise. Instead, over the first month of the season he struggled to find himself. Even with relatively consistent minutes, Nickeil was inconsistent in his play.

These last two games, Alexander-Walker has found the confidence in himself and his shot to keep firing when the looks are there. He’s also been taking it to the rim more; resembling the player who raised the bar on expectations so rapidly during the offseason.

Every time Nickeil Alexander-Walker confidently steps into a three, a @Fish_TBW gets its' wings. pic.twitter.com/H37b4RTkCe

— Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis) November 18, 2019

“I thought Nickeil’s balance between playing aggressive and unselfish was great,” Redick told ESPN Radio. “Jaxson is just a ball of energy. He comes in and makes great plays for us. Tonight was no different.”

And then there’s Melli.

Prior to Saturday night’s contest, he hadn’t made a basket since Nov. 2, when the Pelicans lost to Oklahoma City. In the last two games, he’s totaled 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, while making eight of his 14 three point attempts and committing only two turnovers.

He and Alexander-Walker made 10 of New Orleans’ 18 three-pointers in Sunday night’s win. Coaches had been imploring the rookie to let it fly, and the results this weekend demonstrate why.

After making 4-of-5 from distance in his debut, Melli just stopped shooting. Over his next 10 games, he made only one three pointer in 14 attempts. He wasn’t contributing as a rebounder, passer, or defender. Even as the injuries mounted, Melli was just as likely to be a “DNP-Coach’s Decision” as he was to find himself on the court.

He was brought to New Orleans to fill a role similar to the one ably manned by Niko Mirotic during his too brief stay with the Pelicans, but the only resemblance he bore to his homophonic namesake was his beard.

Perhaps, he too has found his way back from the dark shadows of the end of the bench and into the rotation. The Pelicans have to be hoping so.

This team has to get healthier, eventually. Even at 4-9, the Pels are far from being out of contention for the playoffs, just three games behind Minnesota in the Western Conference standings.

If there is a run to be made with this group, they’ll need contributions from every man on the roster on any given night. If the lessons learned, and minutes earned by Hayes, Alexander-Walker, and Melli during this time can stick, the New Orleans Pelicans can still make this season a memorable one.