New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have continued their ascent in the Western Conference and their defensive swag is undeniable. The Pelicans work as one to terrorize the LA Clippers on the Clips’ home floor and Jaxson Hayes gets the best of Paul George on a stepback triple attempt. The team ratchets up the pressure all over the floor, as Larry Nance Jr. cuts Reggie Jackson off from the baseline to earn a steal, and more Nance Jr. tenacity leads to a steal by Zion Williamson, who leads the counterattack before dropping the ball off to Naji Marshall for a layup. The Pelicans stay in sync, with Devonte’ Graham stopping Norman Powell in his tracks with a steal that turns into a Williamson dunk on the other end. One of Marshall’s two thefts sends him the length of the floor to finish with an unselfish dime to Herbert Jones. New Orleans had nine steals and coaxed LA into an 11 of 39 mark from three-point land en route to a dominant 112-91 victory on October 30, 2022.