New Orleans needed this. After losing three straight close games that dropped them noticeably in the Western Conference playoff chase, the Pelicans weren’t in a must-win situation Friday, but it was pretty close. Fortunately for New Orleans, the hosts found a way to get back in the win column, holding off Miami’s fourth-quarter surge. As a result of eighth-place Memphis’ simultaneous loss Friday at Dallas, the Pelicans reversed a recent trend in the standings, cutting their deficit on the Grizzlies to four games.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Derrick Favors contested Bam Adebayo’s driving floater and came up with the defensive rebound, leading to New Orleans running valuable time off the game clock, leading by five.