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Steven Adams has earned the applause of New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy after beating the Toronto Raptors 113-99 to open the NBA season.
Adams scored 8 points and had 8 rebounds in his 31 minutes of play at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Wednesday night (Thursday NZT).
At one point he took a European step, in which a player passes a defender in one direction and then quickly takes a big side step in the other direction, to confuse the Raptors defense.
SPARK SPORT
Steven Adams dupes the Raptors defense with a European step.
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MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE / AP
Steven Adams (12) struggles on defense as Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket in their NBA clash.
But it was his defense that received praise from Van Gundy after the game.
“He was great defensively, he saved a couple of plays where our rotations were terrible and people were open, and he was basically able to defend two guys on his own, he was tremendous on the defensive side of the court,” Van Gundy said.
When Adams was listed by an interviewer as one of the veterans who stabilized the ship as the Raptors led, after feasting on the broken ball, Van Gundy agreed that was the case.
Chris O’Meara / AP
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) works against Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half.
“Probably the most surprising thing is calling a 27-year-old boy like Steven one of the old men,” he said.
JJ Redick converted a four-point play with just over a minute remaining and finished with 23 points, and Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 24 points as the Pelicans rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat the Raptors.
Zion Williamson had a great second half for the Pelicans and finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Eric Bledsoe scored 18 while the Pelicans gave Van Gundy a win on his New Orleans debut.
Chris O’Meara / AP
Toronto Raptors center Aron Baynes (46) kicks the ball away from New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart (3) during the second half.
“I would say we fought very hard in a game that was very, very frustrating,” Van Gundy said. “We were delivering the ball, we were in foul trouble, a lot of things weren’t going well. We held on and we kept fighting and then we made enough plays and enough shots to get away. “
Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 20 points. Kyle Lowry finished with 18 points and 10 assists.
Due to Canadian restrictions on cross-border travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Raptors are scheduled to play their first 17 games “at home” in Tampa. The second half of the NBA schedule will be released later.
Lowry had four 3s in the second quarter, and when Siakam had consecutive 3s, the Raptors opened their biggest lead of the game with 11 points.
Redick hit a pair of 3s late in the second period, but the Pelicans entered the break with a 57-50 deficit.
Chris O’Meara / AP
Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) walks away from New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) and guard JJ Redick (4).
Ingram spoke about the importance of Redick to the Pelicans.
“It’s good to have him around from a professional standpoint, so we like to have him around,” Ingram said. “We love that he can throw the ball and when he’s open he needs the ball.”
Early in the second half, Lonzo Ball and Bledsoe scored 3s in a 9-0 run. Then Ball and Ingram made all the scoring for the Pelicans in a 10-2 run that ended the third quarter and gave the Pelicans an 88-79 lead. They scored 38 points in the period.
The Pelicans play the Miami Heat in Miami on Friday (Saturday NZT).
– Things and AP
