Pelicans Balanced Attack Foils Milwaukee

In each team’s final game before the All-Star Break, the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Milwaukee Bucks 102-98.

                With the win, New Orleans improves to 23-29 heading into the All-Star Break activities they are hosting. The loss puts the Bucks at a record of 9-43, far and away the worst record in the NBA.

                “It has been a difficult season for us,” Bucks assistant coach Scott Williams said. “I really want the guys for four days to come back refreshed physically and mentally.”

                The game was close throughout, but the Bucks held a 49-46 advantage going into the half.

                “Offensively we were moving the basketball side to side, 15 assists in the first half for us,” Williams said. “That’s a good number, but the ball stuck a little bit in the second half.”

The Pelicans outscored the Bucks 37-27 in the 3^rd quarter to have an 83-76 lead heading into the fourth.

                That is when rookies Nate Wolters and Giannis Antetokounmpo each made key blocks early in the quarter to spark a Bucks rally to knot the game at 84. After a New Orleans timeout, Tyreke Evans proceeded to hit a driving layup that put the Pelicans up for good with 8:45 left in the game.

                The Bucks were not without their chances to come back. Both Wolters and Brandon Knight missed threes on the same possession with 2:38 left trying to cut the lead to one. Ersan Ilyasova also missed a dunk with 1:28 left.

                “We didn’t make big plays down the stretch,” Wolters said. “We haven’t been very good all year about closing out games, and we didn’t change that tonight.”

                After a defensive stop, the Bucks had the ball with 25.4 seconds left in the game. Ilyasova drove to the hoop and appeared to be hit on the arm while shooting. With no foul called and the crowd of 11,012 booing about it, the Bucks scrambled around, culminating in a Brandon Knight turnover. Eric Gordon hit two free throws to ice the game away.

With All-Star forward Anthony Davis mired in foul trouble throughout the game, the Pelicans had to rely on other guys for scoring. New Orleans featured seven players scoring in double figures and were led by guard Eric Gordon who had 21 points, 6 assists and shot 7-13 from the field.

Alexis Ajinca, who normally averages four points and four rebounds per game, contributed 16 and nine respectively. Curiously, he did not receive a single minute in the fourth quarter to try and get his first double-double of the season.

Brian Roberts added 17 points and five assists. Evans chipped in 12 points. Luke Babbit, signed eight days ago, had 10 points off the bench. Al-Farouq Aminu contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Davis had 12 points in only 20 minutes of action due to his foul trouble.

The Bucks were led by Knight who had 22 points and nine assists. Fellow starting guard, Wolters had 14 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds.

Asked about his rotating roles on the team, Wolters said:

“Going into the season, I didn’t really know how much I would play. Being able to start a little bit, and then I have also been on the other side where I didn’t play at all, so you just got to work hard every day and be ready when your name is called.”

Gary Neal came off the bench and had 18 points on 8-12 shooting to go along with three assists.

Ilyasova contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds on the night. Khris Middleton had 11 points and four assists. Zaza Pachulia struggled from the field, shooting 3-11, but still had eight points and 7 rebounds.

Antetokounmpo will travel to New Orleans to play in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Game Friday night and the Taco Bell Skills Challenge Saturday night.

“I am excited for Giannis,” Williams said. “It’s been a losing season, and this is a bright spot for us. This is a 19 year old kid that has come over from a foreign land and has performed really well.”