Pelicans lose pretty in “best” loss of season but a loss is a loss

The headline says it all.

If you stayed up late and watched the Warriors beat the Pelicans 147-140 in Oakland, you may have thought you were watching an NFL regular season game or perhaps the NBA All-Star game.

The former is applicable in that the rule changes in the NFL have prohibited defensive players from hitting players too high, hitting them too low, grabbing them by the collar, holding or contacting receivers beyond five yards and then some. All of the rules have been geared to produce more offense.

The latter is applicable in that the All-Star game is a showcase of offensive talent, with players giving virtually free paths to open shots and to the rim until the fourth quarter. Typically, the game produces an inordinate number of points as compared to regular season games.

It was a brutal loss for New Orleans.

What do the Pelicans have to do to beat the Warriors?

Golden State has beaten New Orleans 10 of the last 11 times and in 21 of the last 23 meetings. Of course, the Warriors have done that to a lot of people.

New Orleans is the first team since 1992 to lose in regulation when scoring 140 points. The Pelicans built a 17-point lead, playing brilliant offensive basketball.

Then, Stephen Curry got hot.

In the third quarter, Curry was incredible, scoring 23 points. He is now the first player in NBA history to make at least eight 3-pointers in three consecutive games. It is not as though he was wide open. Various New Orleans players tried their hands (and feet) at guarding him, to no avail.

While no one would accuse the Pelicans of being any good defensively, they actually gave good effort Wednesday night. Curry and the Warriors are simply that good and the rich are about to get richer with DeMarcus Cousins set to return.

How good was this one to watch?

The two teams combined for an NBA record 43 made 3-pointers, breaking the record of 41 set by, of course, Golden State and Sacramento on Jan. 5.

New Orleans was a blistering 19 of 37 from 3-point range (51.4%). The Pelicans made 27 free throws. Anthony Davis had 30 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots. Niko Mirotic looked very healthy, coming off the bench to pump in 29 points, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range. He had five rebounds and three assists. Jrue Holiday had 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Julius Randle had 23 points and seven rebounds. E’Twaun Moore scored 17 points. Elfrid Payton dished out 12 assists.

It was not enough because Golden State made 24 of 49 from 3-point range and won the battle of the boards 57-49. Kevin Durant had 30 points and 15 rebounds.

It is little consolation but this was as good as the Pelicans have played on the road this season. While their best effort of the season may still be the season open win at Houston (131-112), this was perhaps the second best overall and it resulted in a loss. That is how good the Warriors were last night and how good they are. Regardless of the likes of Toronto, Denver and others, Golden State is still the chalk.

A loss is a loss.

Still, if New Orleans can carry over the way it has played in its last two games, including the win over Los Angeles over the Clippers, perhaps there is still hope for this team yet.

The good news is that the Pelicans do not have to return to Oakland this season. The bad news is that the Warriors come to New Orleans to conclude the regular season on Tuesday, Apr. 9. Let’s hope the game is a meaningful game for the Pelicans. Let’s hope the Pelicans have already clinched a playoff birth by then. Let’s hope the Warriors have already wrapped up the top-seed in the West and rest key players. We can always hope.