The New Orleans Pelicans are through to the 2024 NBA playoffs as the eighth seed after defeating the Sacramento Kings 105-98 on Friday, and the prize they get is a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The team won despite not having Zion Williamson, who was sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury against the Los Angeles Lakers in their first play-in game. To the New Orleans Pelicans’ credit, they stepped up in his absence, as six players scored in double digits, including Larry Nance Jr.
During the postgame press conference, Larry Nance Jr. took a subtle jab when asked about their chances against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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“Respectfully, I’m betting on the Pels. I’m not betting, no Jontay Porter. I’m not betting. I’m not betting on anything. I don’t own a betting app, none of that,” Nance said via the Pelicans Film Room on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Larry Nance Jr’s response elicited laughs during the press conference, as he alluded to Jontay Porter’s gambling controversy, which saw him banned from the NBA for life recently.
The New Orleans Pelicans are no pushovers against the Oklahoma City Thunder
Even if Zion Williamson is out for a couple of games, the New Orleans Pelicans have a puncher’s chance of beating the Oklahoma City Thunder because they’ve been the best road team in the regular season with a 28-14 record.
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Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum were big for New Orleans during the play-in, and head coach Willie Green will need more from these two if they will be competitive against the Western Conference’s top-seeded team. Ingram and McCollum are the team’s second and third-leading scorers, averaging 20.8 and 20.0 points per game, respectively.
Other than that, the Pelicans have to find a way to slow down the Oklahoma City Thunder’s vaunted offense led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams to give themselves a chance.
