Holiday steps up, Davis enters MVP picture to lead Pelicans

The NBA holidays, also known as the All-Star Break, for the New Orleans Pelicans were enjoyable. The team members got refreshed over the All-Star break.

When the holidays ended Friday night, Jrue Holiday made the fans in the stands at Smoothie King Center feel like it was a holiday, with a joyous spirit.

Holiday capped a thrilling, compelling, important game against Eastern Conference contender Miami with a game-winning floater in the lane in overtime in a 124-123 victory.

New Orleans has clearly accepted its fate and moved on from the devastating loss of Demarcus Cousins. The Pelicans have now won four straight games.

This was a game that New Orleans had to win.

If you want to be a playoff team, you have to win at home. If you want to think about competing in the playoffs once you arrive there, you have to beat solid teams at home.

The Pelicans have not been good enough at home this season, sporting a modest 16-12 record at Smoothie King Center. Perhaps Friday night was a harbinger of things to come. Change is good.

Despite the win, the Pelicans are still eighth in the Western Conference. They had better keep winning.

Though the Jazz finally lost, Utah is still just two and a half games back of New Orleans. Portland is a half game ahead of the Pelicans and the Blazers have won two straight. Denver is a half game up on New Orleans as well and the Nuggets have won four straight. The Thunder are a game up on New Orleans and Oklahoma City has won two straight.

Ironically, it is the Spurs who are vulnerable.

San Antonio has lost four straight games and its star player, Kawhi Leonard, is clearly estranged with Gregg Popovich and the organization.

Minnesota appears to be struggling as well and a bit vulnerable.

As we have stated many times, Golden State and Houston are easily the best teams in the conference and there are eight teams competing for the other six spots. It now looks like it may take as many as 45 wins to make the playoffs. To get there, New Orleans must go 13-11 the rest of the way.

Back to Friday night.

As I have stated several times, Holiday must become more of an elite player in the absence of Cousins if the Pelicans are to make the playoffs.

He was just that Friday night, pumping in 29 points, pulling down nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists while scoring the game-winner in clutch fashion.

Ian Clark stepped up in a huge way off the bench, sinking 9-of-11 shots, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range for a season-high 21 points with four rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes, his largest volume of minutes in any game this season.

Then, there is Anthony Davis.

To say that he has elevated his game without Cousins would be a vast understatement.

Davis was magnificent again.

His stat line has been mind-boggling over the last four games.

In those four victories, Davis has averaged 42.2 points, 14.7 rebounds, four blocks, 3.7 steals and two assists. Davis is shooting 56 percent (62-of-111) from the field and 84 percent (36-for-43) from the free throw line.

Last night, he entered rare air with a performance including 45 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and five assists.

While New Orleans is fighting to make the playoffs, Davis has unquestionably played his way into the discussion for league Most Valuable Player honors.

While it remains a bit of a long shot, Davis’ performance cannot be ignored, particularly if the Pelicans continue to win and make the playoffs without Cousins. He is that good.

Davis is third in the league in scoring, second in blocks per game, eighth in rebounds and 13th in field goal percentage.

He needs to continue to be that good if New Orleans hopes to return to the postseason for the first time under Alvin Gentry.

The Pelicans head to Milwaukee to take on a hot Bucks team Sunday. This is a game against another Eastern Conference playoff contender.

If Davis and Holiday continue to perform as they have most recently, the Pelicans will not be enjoying holidays at the end of the regular season, presenting a present to fans instead. That is a good thing.