In a few weeks, New Orleans hopes to be a participant in the Western Conference play-in tournament. The Pelicans spent the last 24 hours battling two teams likely to be part of the East’s bracket.
After pulling off a five-point win in Atlanta on Sunday, New Orleans dropped a hard-fought Monday matchup in Charlotte, after leading by six points through three quarters. Ninth place in the East, the Hornets used a 28-19 edge in the fourth quarter to rally for a win and push the Pelicans back one spot to No. 10 in the West.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Trying to tie it and force overtime in the final seconds, New Orleans couldn’t get a clean three-point look at the basket, with the ball getting tipped by Charlotte’s defense as CJ McCollum sought an opening to fire.