The New Orleans Pelicans were cruising towards what seemed like their eighth straight home win, but the fourth quarter had other plans. The Cleveland Cavaliers turned up the heat, outscoring the Pelicans 35-18 in the final stretch to secure a 111-106 victory at the Smoothie King Center.
Cleveland's fourth-quarter surge was fueled by impressive shooting and relentless rebounding. They hit 52% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc, and were flawless from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans struggled, managing just 31.2% from the floor and missing all five of their free throw attempts. The rebounding battle was just as lopsided, with the Cavs dominating 19-5 in the period.
Interim head coach James Borrego of the Pelicans reflected on the missed opportunities, noting, "We had good looks... The most frustrating thing to watch is going to be the rebounding. We’ve got to close that game out.”
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 27 points, while James Harden came alive in the second half, scoring all 20 of his points then, along with 10 assists. Evan Mobley added 18 points, Sam Merrill chipped in with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Thomas Bryant contributed 11 points. The Cavs wrapped up a successful three-game road trip with this win.
Zion Williamson was a force for New Orleans, scoring 25 points, 22 of which came in the second half. Saddiq Bey added 19 points, Dejounte Murray recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, while Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III contributed 12 and 10 points respectively. Despite the loss, the Pelicans finished a 3-1 home-stand and are set to hit the road for a three-game trip starting with the Knicks.
Reflecting on the home-stand, Borrego remarked, "It was still a successful home-stand... We’ll get back to work tomorrow and go back on the road and do some damage."
The Pelicans had extended their lead to 75-62 midway through the third quarter, thanks in part to Williamson’s efforts. However, the Cavaliers, led by Harden and Mitchell, orchestrated a 28-6 run that turned the tide.
Despite cutting the deficit to four points twice in the final minutes, New Orleans couldn’t find the defensive stops they needed, a stark contrast to their recent win over the Clippers.
Earlier in the season, the Cavs had handed the Pelicans a tough loss, scoring 141 points back in December. This game started with Cleveland taking a 31-18 lead, but the Pelicans fought back to hold a 56-53 advantage at halftime, largely due to strong defensive efforts in the second and third quarters.
Cleveland managed this comeback without key players Jarrett Allen and Jaylon Tyson, showcasing their depth and resilience. The Pelicans, despite the setback, have won 10 of their last 15 games, indicating a team that's still very much in the mix.