The New Orleans Pelicans' playoff hopes came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night, as they succumbed to a 113-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets in game 4 of their Western Conference playoff series.
Disappointing Performance by Pelicans' Star Players
The Pelicans were led by Zion Williamson, who scored 32 points, but struggled with 6 turnovers and only 5 rebounds. Brandon Ingram added 23 points, but shot just 8-22 from the field, while CJ McCollum had a disappointing 15 points on 5-15 shooting.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, were led by Nikola Jokic, who had a triple-double with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Jamal Murray added 25 points, and Michael Porter Jr. chipped in with 18 points off the bench.
Nuggets' Dominance in the Paint
The Nuggets dominated the paint, outscoring the Pelicans 54-38. Jokic's size and strength in the paint proved to be too much for the Pelicans to handle. The Nuggets also outrebounded the Pelicans 45-37, which was a key factor in their victory.
The Pelicans were unable to contain Jokic, who had his way with the Pelicans' defense. He shot 14-24 from the field and made several key plays down the stretch to seal the victory for the Nuggets.
Pelicans' Offseason Ahead
The loss marks the end of the Pelicans' playoff run, and they will now turn their attention to the offseason. The team will look to retool and rebuild for next season, which will likely include a major overhaul of their roster.
Coach Willie Green will face a tough task in trying to motivate his team after a disappointing playoff loss. However, he will also have the opportunity to learn from his mistakes and come back stronger next season.
The Denver Nuggets, on the other hand, will now turn their attention to the Western Conference Finals, where they will face off against the Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets have a tough task ahead of them, but they have shown themselves to be a formidable team this postseason.