Brandon Ingram’s 21 points in the third quarter and Herb Jones’ key block of Devin Booker’s last-second 3-pointer helped the New Orleans Pelicans look more like the team coach Willie Green hoped for at the start of the season.
For the first time since late October, the Pelicans had five of their top six players in the lineup when they defeated the Phoenix Suns 126-124 on Thursday night, ending a nine-game losing streak.
“It allows us to be the team that we believe that we can be,” Green said. His 5-18 team is still near the bottom of the Western Conference. “As we’re getting healthy, we want to continue to chip away.”
The only starter missing against Phoenix was star power forward Zion Williamson, who is still recovering from a left hamstring injury, and his return timeline is uncertain.
Ingram (29 points), Jones (12 points and four steals), CJ McCollum (25 points), Trey Murphy III (19 points), and Dejounte Murray (17 points) all played important roles in the win against the Suns.
“It was great,” Murray said. “Obviously, health is wealth. … You could never judge a team without their guys.”
Jones, New Orleans’ best defender in recent seasons, had missed 18 games due to a right shoulder strain.
“Herb’s one of those guys — he just puts out fires,” Green said. “Without him on the floor, we’re missing a lot.”
Jones got hurt diving for a loose ball at Golden State on Oct. 29, but he was eager to get back on the floor and wasn’t hesitant to dive for loose balls or tie-ups against Phoenix.
“After I made the decision I was good enough to play, once I get out there, I go for what I know — and that’s playing hard,” Jones said.
Ingram, who had missed five games with a right calf injury, scored 29 points, making 10 of 19 shots. He also hit three straight 3-pointers during a strong third quarter, turning an 11-point deficit into a 99-93 lead for the Pelicans.
Ingram’s scoring helped open lanes for other players like McCollum, who made a driving floater to put the Pelicans ahead for good in the final minute.
“That was the first time we had played together since the third game of the season,” McCollum said. “It’s not like we’ve been on the court together at all. It’s not an excuse. It’s just our reality.”
After winning the first two games of the season, the Pelicans lost 18 of their next 20.
Now, they will need to win more games, starting with Thursday’s victory, if they hope to get back into the playoff race in the Western Conference.
Green doesn’t think the team’s recent injuries hurt the team’s chemistry or the players’ excitement for what lies ahead.
“There’s nobody to blame,” Green said. “We’re in it. We have to embrace being here.”
