The New Orleans Pelicans’ season is over after a gentleman’s sweep in the second round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, but they have nothing to be ashamed of. Here are three takeaways from Game 5 and the series as a whole.
Following a first round sweep of the third seed in the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans looked like a legitimate threat to the mighty Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs. The Dubs had made light work of their first round opponent, but Stephen Curry hadn’t played in weeks and the Pelicans suddenly looked like Western dark horses.
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite pan out that way. The Warriors steamrolled NOLA in Game 1 without Curry, and the two-time MVP’s return in Game 2 gave Golden State a commanding 2-0 series lead. The Pelicans earned one blowout win at home in Game 3, but the Dubs struck back in Game 4, giving themselves a chance to close out the series at Oracle Arena in Game 5.
That’s exactly what happened Tuesday night, as the Pelicans’ feel-good season came to an end in a 113-104 defeat. Despite 34 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks from Anthony Davis in his best game of the series, the Big 4 were too much for the Pellies.
Curry led the charge with 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, Kevin Durant added a 24-7-6 stat line, Klay Thompson put up 23 points and Draymond Green finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks to average a triple-double for the series.
Jrue Holiday submitted a 27-11-10 triple-double in Game 5, while Nikola Mirotic added 12 points. The question is, now that the season is over, what did we learn about the Pelicans from the elimination game and the series as a whole?