Basketball
New Orleans Pelicans Heading to Playoffs After Stunning LA Clippers
by privatebet.com - 2022/04/16
The New Orleans Pelicans entered their play-in game against the LA Clippers on Friday as a clear underdog, but that was just the push they needed to move forward. They exceeded everyone’s expectations and secured a place in the playoffs after making a wild comeback in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans entered the fourth quarter with a 13-point deficit, but that didn’t stop them from coming out victorious. They defeated Clippers 105-101, largely thanks to Brandon Ingram, who finished the game with 30 points, making it to the playoffs for the first time in his NBA career. The Pelicans’ triumph is especially impressive when you remember how their season started. They kicked the season off with a humiliating 1-12, but went on to become only one of four teams in the NBA history to make it to playoffs after such a bad start. It also didn’t help their case that they were led by a first-year head coach Willie Green, but it turned out he was up to the challenge. “That win was big-time. It was an emotional game, a ton of highs and lows. But for us, our mentality is we’re going to continue to fight. We’re not going to fade out,” said Green after the game. The Pelicans are entering the playoffs as West’s no. 8 seed, and they’re set to face the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.