Tuesday evening, the New Orleans Pelicans head to Scotiabank Arena for a road clash against the Toronto Raptors. The Pelicans beat the Indiana Pacers three nights ago. The Raptors dispatched the Charlotte Hornets. Tip-off is at 7:40 p.m. ET. New Orleans opens as a road favorite.
Pelicans crush Pacers
The Pelicans destroyed the Pacers three nights ago, taking an early lead en route to a 129-102 victory. Brandon Ingram scored 19 of his 34 points in the first quarter, tying New Orleans’ franchise record with 48 points. After a 123-114 loss at Indianapolis on Wednesday night, the Pelicans were 20 of 22 from the field in the first quarter, taking a 48-26 lead.
The 90.9% shooting percentage was the highest field goal percentage of any team in a quarter this season and the highest percentage in a first quarter of no no matter which team since Dallas shot 94% in a 2014 game against Utah. Trey Murphy III added 28 points as the Pelicans caught fire from beyond the arc. “BI was amazing” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “It was just fun to see him play with that strength, with that pace, with the confidence that he had on the court. His teammates all rallied behind him. Collectively, it was a great bounce-back game for us… go home, get some rest and get this win.
After being outscored 50-40 by the Pacers on Wednesday, New Orleans held a 47-43 lead in the boards Friday, including 11-2 in the first quarter. They then get the exhausted Raps.
Raptors cut hornets
Toronto played well without half of its roster and beat the Hornets 111-106. Immanuel Quickley scored 22 points and matched his season high with 11 assists and RJ Barrett had 23 points.
Gary Trent Jr. added 17 points and Ochai Agbaji 13 points and a career-high nine rebounds as the Raptors overcame the absence of injured All-Star Scottie Barnes and the loss of center Jakob Poeltl to injury. injury to win for the first time in three games. “Any time someone who plays 40 minutes a night is not in the game, I think everything changes,” Quickley said. “But you try to keep the same things as much as you can. “Everyone stepped up, contributed and played with a lot of effort. That’s what we’re going to need.”
Although the Raptors are calling his injury a dislocation rather than a fracture, the hand issue could cause enough discomfort that Poeltl won’t be ready to play when the Raptors return to action. Kelly Olynyk would likely start at center if Poeltl can’t go Tuesday, while two-way player Jontay Porter could re-enter the rotation as a backup center. Entering action on Tuesday, they are 3.5 games out of the 10th and final play-in spot.
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Rating:
Brandon Ingram ended Friday’s 129-102 win over the Pacers with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes. Ingram led all players in Friday’s contest in scoring while finishing two rebounds short of a double-double to go along with a half-dozen rebounds in a dominant performance. Ingram has topped the 30-point mark in 10 games this season, including two straight outings. He scored at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists four times. The Raptors are missing their best player Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl will likely be out for this game. This opens the door for Ingram and Zion Williamson to dominate the interior and earn a victory. Take New Orleans.
Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans ATS
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Rating:
The Pelicans and Raptors are middle of the pack when it comes to pace. While the Indiana win was a great game for the Pelicans, Zion just wasn’t very productive with just eight points and three rebounds. They didn’t need him, as they were still able to blow out the Pacers after losing to them in Indiana two days prior. Brandon Ingram has taken control of that one, but expect Zion to come back with a vengeance against a Toronto team missing starting center Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes. The total has dropped five times in a row for New Orleans. Toronto doesn’t have the punch to compete with the Pelicans. Take the bottom.
Prediction: UNDER
