The New Orleans Pelicans took down the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, snapping the Hawks 19-game winning streak and providing a potential template for other teams looking to conquer Atlanta.
Sure, the Pelicans have Anthony Davis, and no other team has anyone quite like him. Davis had an incredible game, scoring 29 points on 12-23 shooting, grabbing 13 rebounds, and playing unbelievable defense.
But the win came as a result of a team effort.
Check out how the Pelicans won below.
They Passed a Lot
The Hawks pass so much they’ve earned the nickname “Spurs East.” But in this game, at least, the Pelicans proved to be the better passers. They finished with 30 assists--12 from Tyreke Evans and another 7 from Eric Gordon--to the Hawks 19.
Evans, Gordon, Jimmer Fredette, and Quincy Pondexter repeatedly took the Hawks off the dribble and created offense. Evans was especially effective, dishing time and again to both the perimeter and also inside to Davis and Omer Asik.
The crisp passing led to a free throw advantage. The Pelicans shot 23 times, making 20, while the Hawks shot 17 times, making just 13.
They Jumped Ahead, and Held the Lead
Games often turn on a run or two, and tonight was no exception. The Pelicans shot 52 percent in the first quarter, to the Hawks 34 percent, and led 32-22 going into the second.
They added three points to the lead by halftime, and also scored a point better than the Hawks in both the third and fourth quarters.
The Hawks never seemed to threaten the Pelicans, who were boosted by the home crowd and seemed to keep gaining momentum. Multiple dunks from Asik and Davis, and a slew of three-pointers from a host of players helped keep the crowd revved up.
