The Pelicans were coming off a game where they committed 22 turnovers so when New Orleans turned the ball over on the opening possession of the game Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors at Smoothie King Center, you had to be a little concerned.
Indeed, the Pelicans committed too many turnovers again with 20 in this game.
Therefore, you may assume that they were in trouble against the Raptors.
Think again.
New Orleans shared the ball in fabulous fashion, made shots in beautiful bundles, rebounded with fierce fury and defended with terrific tenacity in a 126-108 victory.
Pascal Siakam is long and he is talented.
Herb Jones is a superb defender.
Jones drew the tough assignment.
Siakam scored the first nine points of the game.
That got Willie Green to switch from man-to-man defense to zone.
That helped before New Orleans got back to playing man-to-man defense in more solid fashion.
Zion Williamson came out in explosive fashion, attacking at every juncture. He made his first four field goal attempts and created consecutive and-one opportunities in the first quarter. He would remain that way throughout.
Williamson ended the quarter with 11 points on 5 of 5 shooting from the field with four assists. Williamson was responsible for 19 of the first 25 points for New Orleans by either scoring or assisting on baskets.
Larry Nance Jr. returned to the lineup off the bench and he and Willy Hernangomez played together for the first time in memory this season and were really good in the opening quarter as the duo combined for nine points in seven minutes between them.
The Pelicans expanded the lead in the second quarter with tremendous ball movement, aggressive defense and superb shooting.
New Orleans did everything well, sharing the ball, defending, running, rebounding and making shots. The Pelicans closed the half on a 10-0 run to explode to a 73-47 halftime lead. New Orleans held the Raptors to 18 points in the second quarter.
The Pelicans shot 63.6 percent from the field and had 19 assists on 28 made shots. New Orleans mauled the Raptors 27-13 on the boards.
The 74 points were a season high for the first half this season for the Pelicans.
It was the best half of basketball this season by New Orleans and the best half of basketball by Williamson this season. Zion made 7 of 8 field goal attempts. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Trey Murphy finished the half with 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
Fred VanVleet was ejected from the game in the first minute of the third quarter after getting his second technical foul.
Jones rolled his left ankle early in the third quarter and it did not look good. He walked off to the locker room. He would not return. X-rays were negative.
New Orleans built a 31-point lead in the third quarter but Toronto went on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 20 points at 94-74.
The Pelicans had eight turnovers in the third quarter which allowed Toronto to draw a bit close but New Orleans grew the lead back to 102-78 by the end of the period.
Toronto did not quit and went on a tear in the fourth quarter while the Pelicans continued to be mired in a myriad of turnover-filled possessions. The Raptors pulled within 113-102 and New Orleans needed a lift.
They got it from Williamson, who knifed through three defenders for a demonstrative dunk and then blocked a shot and exploded to the basket for another hoop on the other hand to stretch the lead to 117-102.
That settled things.
The Pelicans played two great quarters and one solid quarter. That was plenty enough.
Once again, New Orleans did it short-handed, without Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Naji Marshall.
Once again, New Orleans needed Williamson to step up.
Zion did so and then some, scoring a season high 33 points on 12 of 15 shooting, sinking 9 of 12 free throws, pulling down 10 rebounds with five steals, four steals and two blocks in a terrific performance.
Murphy was a star, scoring 26 points with five rebounds, making 6 of 12 from 3-point range. It was the third straight game for Murphy with 20 or more points. Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and 13 rebounds and three assists.
As Murphy has been a different player than his rookie season, another rookie is emerging.
Dyson Daniels continues to improve and expand his game. Daniels had 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Jones had 12 points before going down and Nance returned with 10 points.
The Pelicans shot 52 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3-point range, 85 percent from the free throw line and destroyed Toronto 52-30 on the boards which helped offset the only negative, the 20 turnovers by New Orleans, the second straight game they have given it away 20 or more times.
Normally when you reach that mark, you lose.
The Pelicans won both games because they were so good in so many other areas.
Now 13-8 and five games over .500 for the first time in 329 games, the Pelicans play at San Antonio Friday night. New Orleans won at San Antonio 129-110 on November 23.
Hopefully, Jones will not be out for long.
Hopefully, McCollum and Marshall may be ready to play Friday.
Hopefully, Ingram can return soon.
Regardless, this deep roster continues to show that it has a chance to perhaps take this team deep into the playoffs this season.
That is not a reach.
