Third option emerges in Pelicans win over Clippers

The third option. The song remains the same for the 2017-18 New Orleans Pelicans.

In a road loss at Toronto Thursday night, Jrue Holiday played up the enormous contract the Pelicans gave him in the offseason, an important step as he pumped in 34 points in his best effort of the season.

Holiday regressed to a poor six point, five rebound effort Saturday night against the Clippers. While he had eight assists, he had an unacceptable seven turnovers.

Fortunately, the third option did exist in the person of E’twaun Moore.

The starting shooting guard came through with 18 points on 9-of-12 from the field in 33 minutes played.

In a surprising effort, Cheick Diallo, who has been invisible and ineffective, came through big with nine points and six rebounds in just 19 minutes in his most significant effort as a Pelican.

Alvin Gentry went nine deep after playing just eight players in the loss at Toronto. One of them was not Tony Allen, who missed the game with knee inflammation.

The other player coming off the bench was Ian Clark. While he did not shoot it well, he did score six points.

Most importantly, New Orleans defended better, holding Los Angeles to under 41 percent shooting from the field.

The most significant edge was on the boards, where the Pelicans whipped the Clippers 51-37. What kept the Clippers in the game were the 25 turnovers committed by New Orleans, as well as the typical bench scoring differential. Los Angeles outscored New Orleans 39-22 off the bench.

While Holiday had seven, Demarcus Cousins continued his rash of turnovers of late, giving it away eight times.

Fortunately, Cousins was brilliant otherwise, as was Anthony Davis. Cousins had 35 points, 15 rebounds and five assists while Davis continued his outstanding season with 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.

Cousins and Davis are there every night as extremely productive players. You can always count on the big two. It is all about the third option emerging on the nightly basis.

That has to be Holiday but more often or not, it has not been. Rajon Rondo is close to making his debut. Perhaps that will help Holiday in his game.

The Hawks come calling Monday night as the homestand continues with all eyes continuing to be on the third option of the home team.