New Orleans Pelicans Hope To End A Perfect Road Trip With Win Against The Atlanta Hawks
The New Orleans Pelicans (38-25) end their road trip in Atlanta against the Hawks (29-34) on Sunday evening. Atlanta will again be without star point guard Trae Young, who is out indefinitely with a torn ligament in his finger.
The Hawks are also without forwards Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu. Despite the injuries, Atlanta has won three straight games and five of seven overall to remain in contention for a chance at the Play-In Tournament.
The Pelicans are firmly entrenched in the fifth spot in the West, 1.5 games ahead of the Sacramento Kings, and looking to move up higher in the standings. New Orleans has the second most road wins in the league, only trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves in that stat.
To get another victory, the Pelicans must slow the Hawks' high-powered offense. Atlanta ranks No. 5 in the NBA in scoring, averaging 119.9 points per game. The Hawks are 5-2 since Young went out with his injury.
New Orleans has won seven of their last ten games on the back of an efficient offense and defense. The Pelicans are Top 10 in field goal percentage and opponent field goal percentage. Trey Murphy III's outside shooting has returned to boost the Pels outside shooting threats.
Murphy III averages 24 points in the month of March on nearly 50% shooting. Point guard CJ McCollum leads the NBA in three-point percentage (41.4%) among all players attempting at least eight three-pointers per game.
Atlanta struggles to stop opponents inside the paint. They rank No. 27 in the league, surrendering 54.7 points per game in the restricted area. That should be a recipe for success to let Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas dominate the interior.
Williamson is second in the NBA in points in the paint at 17.1 points per game. Herb Jones will have the primary responsibility of trying to stop Hawks' guard Dejounte Murray, who tied his career-high with 41 points on Friday. Atlanta has won four of their last five games against the Pelicans at home.
New Orleans has only one perfect road trip this season which was a minimum of three games. A win on Sunday secures another perfect road trip before they head home for three straight games. The Pelicans are currently 3.5 games out of the fourth seed in the West.
