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The Game 2 victory was a massive win for the Pelicans. The team has continued to fight despite being largely overmatched by the Phoenix Suns. The tides of the series certainly changed when Devin Booker was forced out of Game 2 with a hamstring injury. This was clearly incredibly frustrating for Booker, who already had poured in 31 points in the first half of the game.
While it is horrible to see any player go down with an injury, there is a renewed sense of optimism surrounding the Pelicans. Willie Green has done a masterful job coaching the team this season. The team is clearly behind him and for good reason. New Orleans started the season with a disappointing 3-16 record before making some key adjustments. Green has done a terrific job managing tactics and personalities this season and has continued this into the playoffs. The team has a difficult task ahead with the NBA’s best Phoenix Suns, but are sure to be prepared for their first home matchup of the playoffs.
Pelicans-Suns Game 3 Predictions
CJ McCollum Knocks down 5 three-pointers
The Pelicans' offense took a large step forward with the addition of CJ McCollum this season. The midseason trade changed the dynamic of the team and provided another scoring threat to pair with Brandon Ingram. While he ended with 25 points, McCollum struggled in the opening matchup of the series and shot just 9-25 from the field. He hit three straight three-pointers to end the game but shot 0-5 from beyond the arc during the early portion of Game 1.
McCollum had a more impressive performance in the second matchup and shot six of ten on three-point attempts. With Brandon Ingram doing most of his damage in the mid-range, it is important for CJ McCollum to knock down long-range shots. This duo has proved to be complementary in their short time together. Look for McCollum to let it fly from deep and connect on at least five threes in the Game 3 matchup.
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Jose Alvarado plays 25+ minutes
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The Devin Booker injury changes things a great deal for both sides. The Suns will obviously miss his elite shot-making and superstar presence. For the Pelicans, it likely changes how they will choose to match up defensively. Rather than continuing his traditional role of a playmaker who scores when he needs to, Chris Paul will be forced to carry a heavier offensive load moving forward. The 36-year-old is still extremely capable as a scorer and he has put this on display in the series already. Paul made this clear in Game 1 by scoring 17 straight points for the Suns to take control of the game.
New Orleans’ rookie Jose Alvarado has been one of the cooler storylines this NBA season. The undrafted rookie has scrapped his way into sticking with an NBA roster and serving productive minutes. His pest-like defense can cause real issues and giving him an extended run on CP3 could help neutralize the veteran. He has been battling an ankle injury which has hampered him to some extent, but there are few guys who compete as hard as the Georgia Tech product. He will never be a guy who lights up the stat sheet but expect Alvarado to get an extended run and give his best attempt at shutting down Chris Paul.
Brandon Ingram scores 35+
The Game 2 matchup felt as if it was a coming-of-age moment for Brandon Ingram. The former number two overall pick has teased his star potential for quite some time. With Devin Booker forced to watch on from the sideline, Ingram made it clear he was the best player on the floor in the previous game.
The 24-year-old ended with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in the victory. He took over down the stretch and made it clear he was not willing to let the Pelicans lose that game. This is a massive development in the career arc of Brandon Ingram and the future outlook for New Orleans. As the two teams travel back to the Big Easy, look for Ingram to produce another of these impressive efforts.
Even without Devin Booker, this game will be a difficult challenge for the Pelicans. Since 2020-21, the Suns are still 11-8 when the Kentucky product has not been in the lineup. Look for Brandon Ingram to continue building his legacy and assert his dominance in Game 3. The Pelicans will need him to continue to grow into the superstar that they hope for him to be for their long-term plans to be successful, and these playoffs have been an excellent start.
