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Andrew LopezESPN
NEW ORLEANS: Coming out after a historic collapse Friday night, things once again seemed to be heading in the wrong direction for the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday afternoon.
The Pelicans watched as the Boston Celtics increased their lead to 24 points in the middle of the third quarter, and it looked like the Pelicans were heading for another disappointing defeat.
But instead of bending over and withering like they’ve done several times this season, New Orleans responded.
And he did it with something that has been porous for much of the season: his defense.
From 6:29 of the third quarter until the end of overtime, New Orleans held Boston to just 36 points on a 32% shot, while the Pelicans stormed in again to complete the biggest comeback in history. the franchise in a 120-115 victory.
“It was a big win for us. We stayed true to who we were,” said Zion Williamson, Pelicans striker. “We got together again. Everyone, the coaches, the players, the ball guys, everyone was just engaged. We needed all that energy and we moved on.”
That energy level was, perhaps, in a low season on Friday. The Pelicans won 11 points in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns and lost 18 points. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the biggest loss of the clock era for a team that entered the fourth quarter with double digits.
While their defense failed them then, it is something the Pelicans were able to lean extensively against Boston, led by guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart.
“Me and J-Hart, we want to protect the other team’s stars almost overnight,” Ball said. “We just did our best to slow down these guys as best we could. However, it’s not just two who guard the ball. We all got together on this side of the ball.”
And while the defense was headed by the defense, the Pelicans also had to look at their two star players to finish things off on the offensive end. With the Celtics 106-105 with 10.5 seconds to play, the Pelicans had to make a play to get ahead. Two games after Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy opted to let Brandon Ingram get the ball in final possession in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, this time it went to Williamson. Williamson grabbed the ball from an Ingram screen and faked a pass to Ball. Tristan Thompson was caught napping as lifted a ball over him following a free kick, but the ball hit the bar, rebounding into the keeper’s arms.
“That means a lot to me,” Williamson said of getting the ball at that point. “This is what all the players are working on right now … [Assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon] above all. When he saw that I felt frustrated in the first half, he came to me and gave me a lot of words about confidence. It means a lot.
“Everyone looks at me at that moment like,‘ We with you. Whatever decision you make, we are with you. “Having people like that behind me means a lot.”
Williamson said Ingram was the last person to say anything to him before the play, but Ingram did his best to minimize his role.
“I don’t think I need any extra encouragement,” Ingram said. “He made a basketball play we believe in, and he made the shot.”
Additional encouragement or not, it worked. But work didn’t end for New Orleans, as Celtics striker Jayson Tatum made a deposit to send the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, this time it was Ingram’s time to shine.
With the game tied at 112 with a 50.1 to play, Pelicans striker Nicolo Melli and Celtics center-back Daniel Theis were called up for a double-lane offense in an attempt to free-kick Ingram. That meant a jump ball in the center circle between Williamson and Celtics striker Robert Williams.
Williamson won the tip and finally got the ball back on top of the key. As he drove, the defense collapsed and Williamson ejected the ball to Ingram, who dropped a triple with 34.4 seconds left.
“Whenever I’m in ball selection and handling, I try to do the best reading,” Williamson said. “I think in that situation, after I got to the basket a couple of times, I read they were going to collapse. As soon as they collapsed, Brandon is a bug shooter. He was there, so I made the pass. “I see, it’s built for the moment.”
The win came at a much-needed time for New Orleans, who had lost five of six games.
Ingram said the comeback was what encouraged him the most and he feels like something the Pelicans could use to get the season back on track.
“I think we can eliminate being really good when we stay together,” Ingram said. “The boys were talking tonight. Everyone on the bench was talking. The coaches were communicating with the players and we had a good response.”