The New Orleans Pelicans had a prime opportunity to secure victory in their marquee matchup against the second-seed Oklahoma City Thunder at home last Tuesday, March 26, at the Smoothie King Center.
However, they were unable to capitalize on several great chances in crunch time due to some lapses in their late-game execution.
Even Pelicans star Zion Williamson acknowledged and expressed regret over their missed opportunities, lamenting that they could have secured a crucial win.
"We definitely could have managed the clock better and had some more movement. We were kinda stagnant. I gotta demand the ball more in those situations," the two-time NBA All-Star said in the post-game interview.
Instead, the Thunder emerged victorious with a score of 119-112, securing their first 50-win season since 2015-16. Meanwhile, the Pelicans' record fell to 44-28, although they still retain the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Zion Williamson was passive in crunchtime
Williamson was the Pelicans' primary offensive force that night, scoring 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line.
Additionally, the 23-year-old contributed five rebounds, ten assists, and three steals throughout the evening.
However, Williamson did not attempt another shot after the 3:10 mark of the fourth quarter, as guard CJ McCollum took over offensively for New Orleans in the game's closing moments, ultimately falling short.
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