NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Lonzo Ball highlighted a season best 27-point performance with seven 3-pointers and the New Orleans Pelicans held an angry Milwaukee rally to beat them dollar Friday evening 131-126.
Brandon Ingram scored 28 points and Zion Williamson had 21 points, nine rebounds, and the best seven assists of his career to help New Orleans keep the Bucks from making up a 28-point deficit in the final 17 minutes of play.
Eric Bledsoe also hit seven 3s and scored 25 for the Pelicans, who together made 21 from the depth. Steven Adams grabbed a season high of 20 rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points and 11 rebounds and a former Pelican Jrue Holiday scored 22 for Milwaukee, who left most of the game behind, usually double digits.
The pelicans seemed to be in control as Balls Springer hit 93-65 at 4:35 in the third quarter.
But Khris MiddletonThe turnaround jumper started a 20-3 run in the next 3:08 minutes. Antetokounmpo hit a 3 during the climb and covered it with a spinning dribble for a layup while being fouled.
Milwaukee’s deficit had fallen back to single digits Pat ConnaughtonThe layup made it 98-89, but the Pelicans scored the quarter’s final five points, inclusive Nicolo Melli‘s 3 when the period ended to stem the tide.
After that, the pelicans maintained a nearly 10-point lead until less than two minutes remained.
The Pelicans, who had won just two of their last 10 games, put together one of their best first halves of the season.
They shot 57.1% in the first 24 minutes, including 12 of 21 from 3-point range. And they performed with up to 29 when Nickeil Alexander-Walker made a layup over Brook Lopez and up from the glass then he intercepted Antetokounmpos pass and drove straight back to the hoop to dunk to make it 47-28.
Bledsoe, who came to New Orleans from Milwaukee as part of the multi-team holiday trade, hit five of his first six 3-point shots and had 17 points before half-time.
Pelicans reserve guard Josh Hart made all four of his shots in the second quarter, three from deep.
In contrast, 37% of the bucks even fought open shots and turned the ball over eight times in the first two quarters.
Middleton missed his first five shots before hitting a midfielder 1:24 in the second quarter. Shortly thereafter, Middleton turned a Nicolo Melli theft into an outlier, cutting New Orleans’ lead to 68-45 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Dollar: Middleton finished with 16 points, as did Lopez Donte DiVincenzo had 10 points. Shooting 50% (48 out of 96) for the game to end. … Outperformed New Orleans 49-45. … Exceeded New Orleans 62-40 in color.
Pelicans: Hart finished with 15 points. … shot 46.9% (45 of 96). … Exceeded the dollars 20-17 at the foul line. … Limited sales to nine, three less than Milwaukee’s.
HONORARY LEAVE
The approximately 1,400 fans present shouted a well-known and elongated “Jruuuuue” when Holiday was introduced as a Milwaukee starter before the start. It was the same way fans honored Holiday in New Orleans when he was a pelican starter for the past seven seasons.
During an early break, a tribute to Holiday’s Game and Community Service was shown on the video board while he was in New Orleans. In particular, he and his wife, former international soccer star Lauren Holiday, donated more than $ 5 million – the value of his game checks when he played in the Orlando Bubble last summer – to support black-owned companies operating during the pandemic Sought help. The video received enthusiastic applause, including from some players.
“It means a lot to me,” Holiday said when asked about its continued popularity in New Orleans. “It just means that I did what I should be. I came here, played as hard as I could and left every single game on the line. If I know anything about New Orleans it’s that they love the players who are hugging the city and trying to make this home for them. To be honest, I tried that. I love the city. ”
NEXT
Money: Visit Charlotte on Saturday night.
Pelicans: Houston hosts on Saturday night.
