New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots a jumper over Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) within the second half of an NBA basketball sport in New Orleans, on Monday, January 20, 2025. (AP Photograph/Peter Forest)Supply: submit
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — CJ McCollum highlighted a 45-point efficiency with 3-pointers and reverse layups within the clutch.
Dejounte Murray’s relentless strain on each ends of the courtroom left him one rebound in need of a triple-double.
And the New Orleans Pelicans accomplished the best comeback in franchise historical past.
As harm, cursed and customarily depressing as a lot of their season, the Pelicans do not appear inclined to surrender.
“Large credit score goes to our guys within the locker room who got here collectively,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned after his group erased a 25-point Utah lead and beat the Jazz, 123-119, in additional time Monday evening. “It was a tricky sport to win.”
Not a lot has gone effectively for New Orleans this season.
Star ahead Zion Williamson, who not too long ago returned from a left hamstring harm, was unable to play towards Utah on Monday attributable to a non-COVID-related sickness. He has missed 34 of the Pelicans’ 44 video games this season.
New Orleans’ prime defender Herb Jones is out indefinitely with a shoulder harm, whereas high-profile wing Brandon Ingram has missed 20 straight video games with a sprain on the left ankle.
The Pelicans had additional matchup points inside towards Utah as a result of 7-foot rookie middle Yves Missi missed his second straight sport attributable to a non-COVID-related sickness.
Utah outscored New Orleans 63-45, had 23 second-chance factors and outscored the Pelicans 60-40 within the paint. Nonetheless, New Orleans (12-32), which can battle to get again into competition for a playoff spot, gained its fourth straight sport and seventh in 10.
“We have been lacking guys who rebounded the ball effectively,” McCollum mentioned. “Typically it’s not Xs and Os. It is Jimmies and Joes.
McCollum, 33, has scored 45 or extra factors twice in 10 video games, beginning with 50 in a win over Washington on Jan. 3.
“CJ was wonderful and as soon as he obtained going I believed his teammates did an excellent job looking for him,” Inexperienced mentioned. “We have been getting ready stuff for him. He executed offensively time and again. With out this effort, it’s tough for us to win this match.
Now in his twelfth NBA season, McCollum mentioned he likes to assume his sport will “age effectively.”
“I’m not right here to select on folks,” he mentioned. “It’s a talent. It is a technique. These are angles. It is a sport of footwork. It is a leap shot that by no means goes away. I will be capable to shoot after I’m 40.
Murray, who missed 17 video games early within the season with a hand harm, can also be in good condition and had 26 factors, 11 assists, 9 rebounds and two steals on Monday.
“He was tremendous, tremendous aggressive after we wanted him,” McCollum mentioned.
In the meantime, Trey Murphy III prolonged his latest run of productive type with 24 factors, highlighted by a 3 late in additional time that every one however sealed it. Extra assist got here from 2023 first-round choose Jordan Hawkins, who made three 3-pointers and completed with 18 factors.
McCollum lamented that considered one of New Orleans’ three most up-to-date losses got here by a single level in Boston, the place he missed a last-second floater for the win.
“I don’t take these wins without any consideration as a result of it took us about two months to get 5 wins,” McCollum mentioned. “You must experience the wave and simply maintain your perspective in examine.”
The Pelicans have been scheduled to play subsequent Wednesday evening at dwelling towards Milwaukee. Within the meantime, McCollum deliberate to take advantage of a time without work Tuesday, when a uncommon snowstorm was forecast for south Louisiana.
“I hope there will likely be lots of snow,” mentioned McCollum, father of a 3-year-old boy, “so I can play within the snow with my son.”
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