Trailing by two at halftime, the eighth-seeded Pelicans outscored top-seeded Phoenix 69-52 in the second half on their way to a 118-103 victory on Sunday night to even up their opening-round series at two games each. Brandon Ingram scored a game-high 30 points, becoming the first player in franchise history to reach that mark in three straight playoff games.
“I feel it’s our time,” said Ingram. “We worked so hard throughout the year. We finally get the chance to be on a really, really big stage and continue to play together. My teammates have been helping me out a lot; just putting me in the right spots, passing me the ball in the right areas. Just making me look good.”
Ingram is the fifth leading scorer in the postseason, averaging 29.8 points per game.
It was an electric weekend in New Orleans, with sold-out crowds making their presence felt in both games. Pelicans coach Willie Green says it was something special.
“I love New Orleans,” Green beamed. “I love the people here. That was amazing. It was all kinds of stuff going on. It was hard for me to focus on exactly what they were saying but I know they’re rooting for us. They’re behind us.”
After scoring 31 points in game three, Chris Paul was held to four by the Pelicans, on just 2-of-8 shooting. Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado also forced Paul into three turnovers, one more than he had in the entire series coming in. It got testy between the two in the second half, Alvarado says it’s just basketball.
“I ain’t running away from no smoke,” said Alvarado. “It’s all about basketball, nothing personal. I’m going to stand on my own and I’m going to do my part. Just pick up full court, try to steal the ball from him, and make the game a little difficult for him.”
Game five of the series is Tuesday night with game six back in New Orleans on Thursday.
Ticket prices are already skyrocketing with courtside seats going for almost $14-hundred dollars on the secondary market.
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