Pelicans ride big second half to win over Wizards, bolster playoff hopes

tyle>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

For much of the first half Friday night, it looked like the same Pelicans we have seen in “The Bubble” previously as New Orleans struggled against a bad Washington team on a five-game skid.

Defense was lacking severely. Offense was sporadic. Effort was questionable.

Fortunately, the Pelicans awakened in the third quarter and it was all about defense creating offense.

When your effort is at a maximum level, the results are sure to follow.

The Pelicans dominated the third quarter and went on to beat the Wizards 118-107.

We saw great effort by New Orleans on the defensive end, with the trend set, as always, by Jrue Holiday.

Of course, Holiday was the key offensive player as well, leading New Orleans with 28 points and six assists.

The team applied full court pressure and made it tough for Washington to get into its half court offense. The Pelicans switched smartly and doubled potential shooters regularly while maintaining good position defensively.

The bench was excellent as Frank Jackson, Nico Melli, Josh Hart, E’Twaun Moore and Jaxson Hayes contributed great energy, along with 44 points. Melli, in particular, brought energy and defensive pressure on a full-court basis and he contributed 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks in just 16 minutes.

The Pelicans won despite Brandon Ingram, JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball combining to go 10-for-36 from the field.

New Orleans won despite committing 18 turnovers.

Let’s understand that the opponent was the Wizards, who were without three key players. Some players Washington put on the floor are not NBA players.

Still, playing the second of back-to-back games and playing without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans got a passing grade and got what they needed.

Next up is a Sunday afternoon game against the Spurs.

This game will make or break the chances of the Pelicans making the postseason.

Still to come are games with Sacramento and Orlando. To make the playoffs, New Orleans will have to win all three games.

By the way, the Kings, who would not miss and scored 140 points against the Pelicans Thursday, spit the bit in a 119-106 loss to the lowly Nets Friday.

Unfortunately for the Pelicans, the Spurs and Memphis both won Friday, the first win for the Grizzlies in Orlando.

With the win, New Orleans moved into a tie for 11th with Phoenix at 30-39. The Pelicans are a game behind San Antonio for 10th, a game and a half behind Portland for ninth and two and a half behind Memphis for eighth place.

The Grizzlies still have Toronto, Boston and Milwaukee left to play, all teams better than they are but hard how hard will the Bucks play, having clinched the top seed in the East? For that matter, the Raptors and Celtics are entrenched in the second and third spots as well.

Portland has the Clippers, Philadelphia and Dallas remaining. Again, how hard will those excellent teams play?

Prior to the loss to the Kings Thursday, New Orleans controlled its own destiny. Now, the Pelicans must win out and need help from others.

At least on Friday, they took care of business.