The Warbler is absent
Perhaps the most surprising team of the season is not the Golden State Warriors, but the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two teams have met four times in a row on the stage of the Finals, which has become a good story, but in the past two seasons, neither team has been able to make the playoffs, but this season, they have risen at the same time. Needless to say, the Warriors' record of being the first in the league, as for the Cavaliers, the record of 20 wins and 13 losses, is also the fifth place in the East. In this game, the Cavaliers have to face the New Orleans Pelicans.
Although the Pelicans are the second-to-last team in the West, they are not bad, and the last game, because Ofgram left the game, the team lost to the Thunder, ending a four-game winning streak. In this game, Ingram did not play, but the knights who lacked major generals could not have the slightest carelessness.
Upset reversal
Although missing a major general, the Cavaliers showed their strength in the first quarter, Mobley returned to 5-of-4 shooting to get 9 points and 3 rebounds, Rubio started with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, Love on the bench shot 4 of 4 three-pointers, bombed 12 points, the Cavaliers in the first quarter in an unstoppable posture, blasted 39 points, and the Pelicans only scored 20 points. However, in the second quarter, the Cavaliers relaxed, scoring only 19 points in a single quarter, which undoubtedly gave the Pelicans a chance to breathe, and at the end of the half, the point difference returned to 10 points.
In the second half, Mobley scored 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting, and playing as a center could not hide his shine, which was really the number one favorite for the best rookie. Rubio had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist, and the Cavaliers recovered, scoring 25 points in a single quarter, but the Pelicans scored 28 points, including Jones 7 points and 2 rebounds, Clark 6 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist, and Graham had 8 points, 1 rebound and 1 block. The Pelicans narrowed the gap to 7 points into the final quarter, arguably, and the game suspense is back.
With only one shot in the first three quarters, Temple, who did not score a point, suddenly broke out in the final quarter, shooting 6 of 6, 5 of 5 from three-point range, and got 17 points and 1 steal, becoming the Pelicans' surprise soldier. Under his outburst, the Pelicans gradually overtook the score, eventually beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-104.
Dark Horse of the West
From trailing by 23 points at one point to winning four points, the Pelicans, who were without Zion and Ingram, completed a 27-point comeback. Jones had 26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks, Clark 12 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist, Varan 15 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, Temple 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, Graham 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and the starting five Tigers all scored in double figures. It is worth mentioning that in the past 6 games, the Pelicans have won 5 of them, although it is still the second-to-last in the West, but it is only 2 wins away from the Spurs, the tenth place in the West.
The Cavaliers lost the game, which is more or less surprising, although it is a shortage of major generals, but the Cavaliers' attack in the first quarter still makes many people feel that they will win without suspense. Rubio started with a quasi-triple-double of 27 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Mobley also had 22 points and 7 rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting, and Love on the bench returned to the top, with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal on 7-of-12 three-point shooting, and Markkanen had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.