New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for loss vs. Nets

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Pelicans’ chances of making the playoffs practically evaporated after a 129-134 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

The Pels are now four games behind the 9th- and 10th-placed Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, respectively, the mark they would need to qualify for the play-in tournament at the end of the regular season. Barring nothing short a miracle, the rest of the season looks like an extended audition at making the most out of developing the team’s young players and trying to get a high draft pick.

New Orleans got off to a hot start against the Nets, actually making threes and quickly growing into a lead; however, the Pels did not…