The NBA has decided that play-in games aren't technically "playoff games," which makes the Pelicans' date with the Suns on Friday all the more relevant as the first official playoff game in New Orleans since 2018.
But wherever you choose to log last week's win over the Spurs in Pelicans history, it did set the stage on the sky-high expectations as the team returns home for two games with the first-round series with the top-seeded Suns tied at 1 win apiece.
"Man, that shit’s gonna be crazy. It’s gonna be crazy," Brandon Ingram said following his 37-point, 11-rebound, 9-assist performance in Tuesday 125-114 win. "Our fans have helped us a lot throughout the season and especially seeing those fans in the play-in game. It really shows how much they love us, so I’m expecting a big crowd going back to the Smoothie King and helping us get another win.”
The impact was easy to identify throughout the victory in the 10-9 play-in game, with the sellout crowd giving roars typically reserved for games across the street at the Caesars Superdome early and often. The Pelicans announced Thursday morning that both Games 3 and 4 have already sold out at the box office.
It was the type of atmosphere the Smoothie King Center hadn't played host to in multiple seasons, but one that Pelicans midseason acquisition CJ McCollum remembered well, even if it was a bit bitterly.
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He was a member of the Trail Blazers squad that was swept by the Pelicans during the first round in 2018, with Games 3 and 4 in New Orleans in front of raucous crowds. The scene was similar for the second round series that season despite the Pelicans arriving in an 0-2 hole. The team rode the home energy to a win in Game 3 but fell in the next two games to drop the series.
This time around that energy could be key to taking a lead in the series and setting the stage for massive upset pressure on the Western Conference's top seed, which might be forced to play without one of its stars in Devin Booker who suffered a hamstring injury and finished Game 2 on the bench.
Such an upset has only occurred four times in NBA history, and hasn't happened in more than a decade:
- 1994: Nuggets over Supersonics (3-2)
- 1999: Knicks over Heat (3-2)
- 2007: Warriors over Mavericks (4-2)
- 2011: Grizzlies over Spurs (4-2)
- 2012: 76ers over Bulls (4-2)
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It's been eight years since an 8th seed won more than two games in any such series, the last being the Hawks and Warriors, both of whom forced a Game 7 against their opponents (Pacers and Spurs), but lost on the road. At least one road win is essential in any lower-seeded team landing a playoff upset. The Pelicans have that, but still have a "ton of work" ahead before that's a serious conversation to be had, coach Willie Green said. Still, his star shooting guard is sure about one thing.
"I know what type of time they be on when we go back home," McCollum said. "So I’m looking forward to not being in enemy territory for a little bit and actually hearing cheers when we shoot and pass and do nice things. I know [the fans] gonna show up and show out. And we’re gonna do the same."
Game 2 tips off at 8:30 p.m. on Friday (ESPN)