McCollum enjoys record-setting night from deep in Pelicans’ win over 76ers

It is becoming the most desired outing in New Orleans.

A sellout crowd was on hand for the second straight game as the New Orleans Pelicans hosted Philadelphia, this time, on a holiday weekend and with a later start (7:30 p.m.), creating an even louder and more boisterous atmosphere.

Philadelphia swept the Pelicans a year ago and had beaten New Orleans seven of the last eight times.

Make that seven of nine.

CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson combined for 78 points, too much for the 76ers to handle. New Orleans won its fifth straight game, defeating Philadelphia 127-116.

The Pelicans were efficient all night offensively, shooting 54 percent from the field, largely due to McCollum and Williamson. Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones remained out while Larry Nance Jr. was also out for New Orleans but the depth stepped up again.

McCollum set a franchise record with 11 made 3-pointers and established a new career best in that department. McCollum was 13 of 20 from the field, including 11 of 16 from 3-point range.

Williamson was 13 of 19 from the field, though he was just 10 of 16 from the free throw line. Williamson added five rebounds and McCollum had five assists.

Philadelphia bolted out to a 6-0 lead, including a pair of dunks and the Sixers scored on their first five possessions to lead 10-2.

New Orleans missed its first five field goal attempts.

Philadelphia took a 16-6 lead before the Pelicans got hot, going on an 8-0 run before a 7-0 run to get even at 24-24 with 2:09 to play in the opening quarter.

The Pelicans took their first lead at 28-27 with 44.5 seconds left n the opening quarter on a pair of free throws by Williamson.

Then, Williamson found Naji Marshall for a wide open 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Pelicans a 31-27 lead after one quarter.

Joel Embiid had 15 of the 27 points for the Sixers in the quarter.

Willy Hernangomez finished the quarter with seven points off the bench while Jose Alvarado had a pair of steals.

Williamson scored the first eight points of the second quarter for New Orleans before missing three straight free throw attempts before committing a turnover and he then came out for a rest at the 9:18 mark of the second quarter with New Orleans up 39-31.

It was 47-38 when Embiid returned with just under seven minutes left in the half.

McCollum then took over drilling three straight 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 56-40 with 5:40 to play in the half.

McCollum made another 3-pointer and the lead grew to 63-46 but New Orleans began turning it over and Philadelphia went on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 63-57 before the Pelicans took a 67-60 lead into halftime.

McCollum finished the half with 23 points, including 7 of 11 from 3-point range while Williamson had 16 points. The seven 3-pointers were the most in a half in the outstanding career of McCollum.

It also tied a franchise record for the most 3-pointers in the first half. Ryan Anderson and Peja Stojakovic accomplished the feat previously.

Embiid finished the half with 20 points and six rebounds.

New Orleans took advantage of turnovers, scoring 25 points off 13 turnovers by the Sixers.

New Orleans made 13 of 21 field goal attempts in the second quarter.

McCollum stayed hot in the third quarter, scoring 13 more in the period. Embiid scored 15 points in the third quarter while Williamson scored the final six points of the quarter for the Pelicans before James Harden hit a 28-foot 3-pointer to close the quarter with New Orleans up 99-91.

Williamson dominated early in the fourth quarter and then sat with 7:21 to play in the game with a 109-101 lead.

McCollum set a new career high with his tenth 3-pointer with 5:03 to play to give New Orleans a 119-107 lead.

Williamson returned, resumed his dominance and McCollum continued his amazing night, hitting his 11th shot from 3-point range to break the franchise record previously held by Stojakovic.

McCollum and Williamson became the first Pelicans teammates in franchise history to score 40 or more points in consecutive games. Williamson had 43 in the win over Minnesota Wednesday night.

Hernangomez was good with 13 points off the bench while Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and nine rebounds. Alvarado finished with seven points and four steals.

New Orleans finished with 30 points off 19 Philadelphia turnovers. The Pelicans won the battle of points in the paint 52-44.

New Orleans is now 16-4 at home. Opponents are finding out increasingly that it is increasingly tough to win at Smoothie King Center.

The Pelicans face a very tough challenge, having to jump on a plane and fly to Memphis to take on an elite Western Conference team in the second of a back-to-back Saturday evening.

The Grizzlies are home and rested, having last played on Thursday in a win over Toronto.

It is a return to the scene of the crime as the Grizzlies handled the Pelicans 132-111 on November 25 in a game that was never close.

Memphis is third in the West at 21-13.

The next home game is next Wednesday against Houston with Brooklyn coming to town next Friday night. The latter is already sold out.

New Orleans is becoming a basketball town, thanks to a very entertaining, exciting and now excellent team.