Anthony Davis is heading to the playoffs for the first time in his career. The New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs in a must-win game on the final night of the season to clinch the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference and a date with the Golden State Warriors.
Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans are heading to the NBA Playoffs
The New Orleans Pelicans are heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2011 after clinching the eighth playoff spot in the West on the season’s final day.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans was flying in the first half, opening up a 15-point first quarter lead and pushing it to 22 early in the second quarter. The Spurs made a push at the beginning of the fourth quarter and cut the lead to three in the final 10 seconds, but New Orleans held on to get the 108-101 win.
Anthony Davis scored 31 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots, two of which came in the game’s final minute to seal the victory. These are unbelievable plays.
The Pelicans also got big performances from Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole off the bench to seal the victory.
The Pelicans are the only team on the West’s side of the playoff bracket that didn’t make the playoffs last year. Had the Thunder made the postseason, the West would have featured the same eight teams from last year.
For Davis, his first trip to the playoffs will come in his best year yet as a pro. In his third year in the league, Davis is averaging more than 24 points and 10 rebound per game while adding just under three blocks per outing. He and the Pelicans will face the Golden State Warriors.
On March 25, it seemed the Pelicans’ playoff dreams were dead. At 37-34, they were 3.5 games behind the Thunder for the final spot. But a four-game winning streak that coincided with the Thunder’s four-game losing streak put them in control of their own destiny. They took advantage, and now they’re in the playoffs for the sixth time since the franchise moved to New Orleans in 2002.
Davis is the star, but other Pelicans' players have stepped up in the run to the playoffs. The backcourt of Evans, Eric Gordon, Jrue Holiday and Quincy Pondexter -- who the Pelicans picked up in a trade this season -- is netting over 50 points per game. Big man Omer Asik is grabbing 10 rebounds per game and adding over seven points and Ryan Anderson's 13 points per game are instant offense off the bench.
The Pelicans survived a brutal schedule down the home stretch to sneak into the playoffs over the Thunder. It won’t get any easier in the first round against the Warriors, but at least Davis and the Pelicans are still playing.
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