Los New Orleans Pelicans where does spanish play Willy Hernangmez will have one more life to try to get into the playoffs after beating the San Antonio Spurs (113-103) in the first game of ‘play-in’ that they must dispute. Now they have to take on the Los Angeles Clippers to be the rival of the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the Western Conference.
CJ McCollum was the great architect of the triumph of the New Orleans team that came to be winning by 21 points (85-64 with four minutes to go in the third quarter) and that ended up asking for time before the Texans’ comeback in the last quarter (97-91 with five minutes to go).
The escort drew a first half for the memory with 27 of his 32 points achieved during the first two quarters of the shock. McCollum, who made 12 of his 23 field goals, was also key during the last quarter to act as a veteran on court with 57 playoff games against rookies like Jose Alvarado, who had no experience in these playoffs.
The Pelicans, in addition to McCollum, had a good Brandon Ingram (27 points) and the interior strength of Jonas Valanciunas, who finished with a double-double of 22+14. The particular Big Three of the Louisiana franchise made us forget the Zion Williamson out for the entire season and he did it again in a match in which the Spaniard Willy Hernangmez was left without playing time due to his coach’s decision.
On the part of the Spurs the best was Devin Vassell with 23 points and seven of 13 from the triple. However, the Texans put more offensive production from their best player Dejounte Murray, who finished with 16 points and just one of five from beyond the arc. In addition, the San Antonio team suffered from a physical defense capable of stopping Valanciunas in the paint.
“When the top three players in New Orleans play well, you’re going to lose.” With these words he summed up the shock a Gregg Popovich who did not want to reveal his future, but on which the shadow of withdrawal looms after becoming the coach with the most wins in NBA history with 1,336 games won, more than five entire franchises in the League. Eternal Pops.
