The New Orleans Pelicans lost ground Saturday night in Portland in their quest to lock down the eighth playoff spot in the West, but the team still has six games to go before they surrender.
After a 99-90 loss to the 4th-place Trailblazers, New Orleans is one game back in the loss column behind the Oklahoma City Thunder after winning 2-out-of-3 on their recent West Coast swing.
"We're still in the fight," head coach Monty Williams said. "Most people thought we'd be out of it at this point in the year. I told the guys, two weeks ago when we had all of those injuries, we went 0-3 on a West Coast road trip. This time, we went 2-1. We're right back in it. Not a lot of games left, but we're right in it."
New Orleans defeated the Sacramento Kings and the LA Lakers before Saturday's showdown in Portland.
"If this was in the middle of the season, it would be all positive, with a winning record on this road trip," forward Ryan Anderson said. "But every game is precious for us at this point. So a loss is tough. We need to come home, get ready for the next game and get a win."
The remaining schedule sprint seems to favor the Thunder, but the Pelicans are the team that has surprised all season, triumphing in the situations where logic least expected it.
Ahead for New Orleans, the third toughest remaining schedule in the NBA (.594), behind the Spurs and Suns. New Orleans faces 5 teams that are above .500 in their last six matchups.
Tuesday, April 7 vs the Golden State Warriors
Wednesday, April 8 at the Memphis Grizzlies
Friday, April 10 vs the Phoenix Suns
Sunday, April 12 at the Houston Rockets
Monday, April 13 at the Minnesota Timberwolves
Wednesday, April 15 vs the San Antonio Spurs
Meanwhile, ahead for the Thunder, the 15th toughest remaining schedule (.499), with just 3 contests above +.500 teams and 3 out of 5 contests at home.
Tuesday, April 7 vs the San Antonio Spurs
Friday, April 10 vs the Sacramento Kings
Sunday, April 12 at the Indiana Pacers
Monday, April 13 vs the Portland Trailblazers
Wednesday, April 15 at the Minnesota Timberwolves
