The New Orleans Pelicans entered tonight with the eighth best defense (112.4 defensive rating) in the league. The Sacramento Kings sat on the other end of the spectrum, sporting the sixth-worst mark (116.0 defensive rating).
Despite the obvious difference in the statistics, there was no evidence of the discrepancy through the first half. The score was tied at 59 apiece entering intermission, with both teams shooting lights out from the field and 3-point range.
Assistant Casey Hill couldn’t have hit the bullseye any more directly during his interview with Jen Hale coming out of halftime.