Seven different New Orleans players made their NBA career playoff debut Sunday in Phoenix, but truth be told, the Pelicans have been performing under postseason-like conditions for several weeks now, having to battle their way into a play-in tournament berth since the All-Star break. Still, the atmosphere ratcheted up a few notches in Game 1 against the Suns, at least partly because the opposition presents the league’s biggest challenge right now, posting a 64-18 record this season.
Two days after his first NBA playoff tilt, New Orleans rookie wing Herbert Jones noted following Tuesday’s shootaround that the past week has featured some of the best environments he’s witnessed in basketball, starting with Wednesday’s play-in win over San Antonio in the Smoothie King Center.