The New Orleans Pelicans were looking to grab a victory on their home floor on Friday night until the Phoenix Suns rallied to mount a stellar comeback in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans' 132-114 loss landed on the wrong side of history as it became the worst defeat by any team in the shot clock era that is leading by 10+ points upon entering the final frame of the tilt, via Andrew Lopez.
From @EliasSports: The Pelicans' 18-point loss is the worst by ANY team in the shot clock era (since 1954-55) that led by 10+ entering the 4th quarter.
Previously, three teams (2015-16 Blazers, 2006-07 Timberwolves, 1985-86 Bulls) had lost by 17 when entering the final period.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) February 20, 2021
New Orleans' minus -29 in the fourth quarter also turned out to be their worst for a quarter in franchise history. It further showed how they came out struggling to contain a late-game rally by the Suns which resulted in a humiliating loss.
Pelicans were minus-29 in the 4th (41-12), it was the worst differential for a single quarter in franchise history.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) February 20, 2021
After the game, Lonzo Ball admitted the Pelicans didn't get to gain any momentum on the offensive end after failing to make stops and limit their opponents on the other side of the floor.
“I have to watch the film but just being in the game and seeing it for a little bit, I think us not getting stops kind of demoralized us on the offensive end,” he said via Yahoo Sports. “When we saw them hitting threes back-to-back-to-back and we weren’t really getting any ball movements or any good shots or generating any type of good offense over the course of the fourth quarter, it just got worse and worse.”
Chris Paul didn't want to end the night with a loss as he led his Suns squad to come back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The veteran point guard also hit a clutch three with less than five minutes left in the game which ultimately ended the Pelicans' hopes for a comeback.
The Suns eventually managed to outscore the Pelicans, 41-12, in the fourth quarter to run away with the 132-114 victory. Head coach Stan Van Gundy's squad evidently lacked effort on both ends of the floor as they opted to watch their lead diminish without making a push to fend off Phoenix's heavy offensive attack.
Friday's tough loss will certainly leave a mark on the Pelicans and will only teach the young squad how to take care of their lead moving forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe