@Jim_Eichenhofer
During the relatively quiet NBA month of August, coaches and players sometimes glance through the just-released 82-game schedule, making note of dates and opponents that may be of particular significance. When New Orleans Pelicans fifth-year head coach Monty Williams first saw a copy of his team’s 2014-15 docket, an April 15 finale vs. San Antonio seemed like it might loom large.
“Looking at the schedule,” Williams said Tuesday, “it was like, ‘That game’s going to mean something.’ ”
Williams’ gut feeling from eight months ago proved to be exceptionally prophetic.
New Orleans (44-37) will play its most consequential game in years Wednesday, when it hosts San Antonio (55-26) at 7 p.