New Orleans has made progress in a number of areas in recent weeks, improving at both ends of the floor and splitting its last 10 games, after a 3-16 start, but one issue that has cropped up lately has been the team’s first quarters. The Pelicans have trailed on the scoreboard after 12 minutes in six consecutive games; the last time they led through one period was Nov. 29 at the Clippers, behind an incredible three-point barrage from Jonas Valanciunas.
“We’ve got to be better in general with some of our starts,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said Tuesday.