CJ McCollum is not looking at this as a lost season for the struggling New Orleans Pelicans.
When the Pelicans play the host Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, McCollum will be coming off his second 45-plus-point performance this month. In Monday’s 123-119 overtime win over the Utah Jazz, McCollum’s 45 points helped the Pelicans complete the largest comeback in franchise history.
The Pelicans trailed by 25 points before rallying, mostly behind McCollum, to win their fourth straight and seventh in the last 10. It’s been an incredible midseason turnaround for New Orleans, which has gone 12-32 while battling through a rash of key injuries and illnesses.
Through it all, McCollum has been resolute and productive and the overtime win over Utah was simply the latest example.
“CJ was incredible and once he got going I thought his teammates did a great job of trying to find him,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “We were drawing stuff up for him. He executed offensively over and over again. Without that effort, it’s hard for us to win that game.”
Green said McCollum has been a rock, a consistent contributor and ultimate professional.
“It is extremely impressive and it speaks to CJ’s professionalism (that) behind closed doors when nobody’s looking, he is always getting his work in, always stacking his days,” Green said. “He’s in the gym getting shots up, working on his footwork, watching film, doing all the little things.”
In his 12th NBA season, McCollum is averaging 22.4 points per game. He averaged 20 or more points in each of the past nine seasons.
“I’m just trying to get base hits every day, keep (swinging),” McCollum said. “I get my work in, taking advantage of each day.
“This is what I do. Some nights are not going to be so great nights, but the work is the same. Sometimes you get nights like (Monday). I’ll be able to shoot when I’m 40.”
McCollum scored 50 points Jan. 3 against the Washington Wizards, picking up the offensive slack while Zion Williamson (left hamstring) and Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain) have been sidelined. Williamson recently returned, but has missed 34 of the team’s 44 games, including the win over the Jazz with a non-COVID illness. Ingram has missed 20 straight games.
McCollum has been able to work through his career without significant injuries.
“God has been good to me,” he said. “He has allowed me to maximize my talents. I don’t take it for granted. My game has aged well.’
New Orleans had its home game Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks postponed by a historic snowfall of 10 inches in the Crescent City.
In Memphis, the Pelicans will be playing an opponent also on a roll. The Grizzlies won their fourth straight — and for the fifth time in six games — with a 132-120 victory Wednesday over the Charlotte Hornets.
The Grizzlies were paced by Desmond Bane against the Hornets. Bane recorded his sixth straight game of 20 or more points, scoring 24 with eight assists. Reserve Luke Kennard had a season-high 23 points, including 18 in a first half in which Memphis built a 30-point lead (78-48). Ja Morant added 16 points and 13 assists.
As pleased as Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins has been with the team’s recent play, he lamented a game in which the team led by 35 points midway through the third quarter, but failed to maintain the pressure.
“We were definitely a tale of two halves,” Jenkins said. “The team in the first half reflected who we want to be. Second half, not so much.”
–Field Level Media
