Team Stats (Pelicans at Thunder) Final Score: 92-124 Rebounds: 34-35 Assists: 15-25 Blocks: 2-2 Steals: 4-5 Turnovers: 17-8 Stat Leaders (Pelicans @ Thunder) Scoring Leaders: Jonas Valanciunas, 19; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 33 Rebound Leaders: Jonas Valanciunas, 7; Chet Holmgren, 7 Assist Leaders: CJ McCollum, 4; Jalen Williams, 7 My Player of the Game: Jonas Valanciunas Takeaways The difference in this game was turnovers and wide open missed three-point shots. The New Orleans Pelicans scored their first 11 points from Jonas Valanciunas, and then it all went downhill from there. The Pels had NINE offensive fouls, which was excessive as the referees were calling against the Pelicans more, but the Pels shot under 30% from the three-point line. Brandon Ingram doesn't look ready to be in the spotlight as he scored 18 points -- the same number Herb Jones made. OKC scored 96 points in Game 1 but 124 in Game 2. Pelicans needs Zion ASAP. New Orleans plays next on Saturday at HOME at 2:30 pm. Follow The Kneaux on X , and follow me there too @SportsChrissy.

Mandeville High School graduate Sierra Ballard just won a national championship with the LSU Gymnastics team. Ballard is a junior at LSU and competes in the vault, balance beam and floor exercise. At the national competition, Ballard hit her career best of 9.95 on the beam. St. Tammany's parish President Mike Cooper posted on Facebook congratulating the Mandeville star, and Ballard's local gym North Shore Gymnastics also gave her a shout out on their Facebook page.  This is the first national championship for the LSU team.

Team Stats (Pelicans at Thunder) Final Score: 94-92 Rebounds: 52-44 Assists: 22-21 Blocks: 4-8 Steals: 9-9 Turnovers: 15-15 Stat Leaders (Pelicans @ Thunder) Scoring Leaders: Trey Murphy III, 21; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 28 Rebound Leaders: Jonas Valanciunas, 20; Chet Holmgren, 11 Assist Leaders: CJ McCollum, 6; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/Jalen Williams, 4 My Player of the Game: Jonan Valanciunas Takeaways Pels lost by 2 to the #1 seed, and that's a win in my book. The New Orleans Pelicans are 0-24 when they are trailing into the 4th quarter and tonight was no different. Not sure what's going on, but BI looked off and even Herb Jones didn't look right. Pels just needed someone to step up and get hot and no one ever did. New Orleans plays next on Wednesday on TNT at 8:30 pm. Follow The Kneaux on X , and follow me there too @SportsChrissy.

Team Stats (Kings @ Pelicans) Final Score: 98-105 Rebounds: 40-45 Assists: 21-29 Blocks: 4-8 Steals: 9-9 Turnovers: 15-15 Stat Leaders (Kings @ Pelicans) Scoring Leaders: D'Aaron Fox, 35; Brandon Ingram, 24 Rebound Leaders: Domantas Sabonis, 14; Jonas Valanciunas, 12 Assist Leaders: Domantas Sabonis, 7; Brandon Ingram/Trey Murphy III, 6 My Player of the Game: Brandon Ingram Takeaways The New Orleans Pelicans are in the playoffs!! Brandon Ingram stepped up and scored 24 points to lead the way for Nola. Jonas Valanciunas played an overall game. He was the leading rebounder with 12. Turnovers were a big problem early in the game for the Pelicans, but they did better in the second half, which made a huge difference. Now the Pels will go on the road ;) to play the OKC Thunder. Game 1 is Sunday, April 21 at 8:30 pm CST on TNT.  Follow The Kneaux on X , and follow me there too @SportsChrissy.

Team Stats (Lakers @ Pelicans) Final Score: 110-106 Rebounds: 41-50 Assists: 24-30 Blocks: 7-2 Steals: 8-4 Turnovers: 8-12 Stat Leaders (Lakers @ Pelicans) Scoring Leaders: D'Angelo Russell, 21; Zion Williamson, 40 Rebound Leaders: Anthony Davis, 15; Zion Williamson, 11 Assist Leaders: LeBron James, 9; Jose Alvarado, 7 My Player of the Game: Zion Williamson Takeaways This was a statement game from Zion as he played unbelievably well scoring 40 points with 11 rebounds and hard-nosed defense. Unfortunately, he got hurt in the fourth quarter with what is being reported as a possibly left hamstring injury. The Pelicans came out with a much better plan and a fight in them that kept this game close until the end. Jose Alvarado was big-time with seven assists and his pestering defense. CJ's three-point shooting magic seems to have disappeared since Brandon Ingram has come back. The Pelicans will play an elimination game on Friday, April 19 at 8:30 pm at home against the Sacramento Kings, who the Pelicans have beaten five times this year.  The winner of this game will move on to the first round of the NBA Western Conference playoffs, and the loser will go home.

Team Stats (Lakers @ Pelicans) Final Score: 124-108 Rebounds: 39-39 Assists: 32-26 Blocks: 3-1 Steals: 12-8 Turnovers: 14-19 Stat Leaders (Lakers @ Pelicans) Scoring Leaders: Anthony Davis, 30; CJ McCollum, 25 Rebound Leaders: Anthony Davis/LeBron James, 11; Zion Williamson, 8 Assist Leaders: LeBron James, 17; Zion Williamson, 8 My Player of the Game: CJ McCollum Takeaways Well, after this humiliating loss, the Pelicans have to play the Lakers in the first round of the Play-In tournament. The Pelicans finished the season with 49 wins, and you don't do that with a bad team or coach so remember that. New Orleans did not have an answer for Anthony Davis or LeBron James. Jonas Valanciunas played seven minutes. Brandon Ingram had not played since March 21, but he started this game. Here's what's ahead for the Pelicans: The Pelicans play at HOME on Tuesday at 6:30 pm against the Lakers. If they win, they are in the Playoffs at the #7 seed and will play their next game on April 20.  If they lose, they will play at HOME on Friday against either the Golden State Warriors or the Sacramento Kings. Follow The Kneaux on X , and follow me there too @SportsChrissy.

Team Stats (Pelicans @ Warriors) Final Score: 114-109 Rebounds: 37-53 Assists: 23-27 Blocks: 5-5 Steals: 11-6 Turnovers: 8-16 Stat Leaders (Pelicans @ Warriors) Scoring Leaders: CJ McCollum, 28; Stephen Curry, 33 Rebound Leaders: Trey Murphy III/Dyson Daniels, 8; Draymond Green, 12 Assist Leaders: Dyson Daniels, 7; Draymond Green, 11 My Player of the Game: CJ McCollum Takeaways With this win, if the Pelicans win on Sunday vs. the Lakers, they will clinch a playoff spot. Christian James McCollum made seven three pointers after making nine three pointers the night before. CJ also became the single-season record holder for made 3s. McCollum passed Peja Stojaković at 232 tonight. CJ had an outstanding game, but so did Trey Murphy III, Dyson Daniels, and Zion Williamson. Dyson lead the team in boards and assists. Zion had an incredible second half to help the team. Jonas Valanciunas was vital in the win. Every time Willie Green tried to go small and the Warriors punished the Pelicans, Jonas came right in and turned things around. Follow The Kneaux on X , and follow me there too @SportsChrissy.