Jonas Valanciunas passed through Staples Center like a perfect storm. The Pelicans pivot, who have won three of their last four games, smashed to 39 points with 7 triples (career highs) and added 15 rebounds to be the lord of a match that Luisina’s team won. by a resounding 104-123.
New Orleans found no rival. At the end of the first quarter they won by 15 points and during the remaining 36 minutes they dominated by at least 10 points of difference. After the clash, Willie Green joked that the teammates were calling the Lithuanian center Dirk Valanciunas. He was the protagonist of a happy night for the Pelicans, and he is only the fourth player in NBA history to get at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and 7 triples in a game.
Everybody wants to be him. He is one of the greatest in the sport, but I still have to work hard to be like him, ”he comments on the comparison with Dirk Nowitzki before focusing on the match. «I am being comfortable when I see entering and the shots, and not so much when they do not enter. It was a collective effort. Working with the boys, opening up… Executing the plays is the effort of five boys on the court, ”he says.
Valanciunas was spectacular, but not alone. Brandon Ingram went up to 27 points and 7 rebounds to excellently support his teammate; Of course, he was also clear about who marked the way for them to triumph. ‘Our game changed tonight. He came out with a lot of energy and seemed like he was playing loose. He was the head of the snake in everything we did, ”says the forward.
Defense, rebounds … Problems in Clippers
Following a seven-game winning streak, the Angelenos have lost six of the next nine games. Paul George left with 27 points and Reggie Jackson contributed 19. The truth is that an attack was good, something that shows the fact that they achieved 51.4 percent in shooting from the field. The difficulties are in other facets. They only caused seven rival losses (they had 15) and allowed up to 14 offensive rebounds (they had 4). Those numbers lead to the Pelicans taking up to 22 more field goals than they did. This is how Paul George explains it.
“All the teams are going to go for the board against us. Honestly, that’s our kryptonite. All teams are going in that direction and sending their boys for the rebound. They just think they can do that and there is no penalty, as we haven’t been a great transition team once we got the rebounds. It is something we see every night, “analyzes the forward.
(Photograph by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
