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Spurs vs. Pelicans recap, reactions: Sliding down the playoff ladder

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 11: Nikola Mirotic #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks against the San Antonio Spurs on April 11, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 11: Nikola Mirotic #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks against the San Antonio Spurs on April 11, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The San Antonio Spurs dropped a game to get them into better positioning in the Western Conference.

The San Antonio Spurs secured a playoff spot against the Sacramento Kings, but if they wanted to fend off facing the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets in the playoffs, a win was needed over the New Orleans Pelicans. Staying at No. 6 could have resulted from a loss, but it’s a more complicated path.

San Antonio and New Orleans kept things close in the first quarter, but the game fell apart by the start of the second. This saw the Silver and Black be outscored 34-17, which proved too much to come back from for the rest of the game, despite keeping the quarter-for-quarter scoring close in the second half. The Pelicans won, 122-98.

Six Spurs scored in double digits, but no one topped 11 points. LaMarcus Aldridge, Tony Parker and Dejounte Murray all finished with this number, while Kyle Anderson, Bryn Forbes and Brandon Paul each had 10 points.

However, it was a mostly poor team-wide shooting effort. They shot just 40 percent from the field, compared to a ridiculous 59 percent shooting mark for the Pelicans. There was no stopping an attack led by Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, which propelled this team to victory. Three players had a double-double, as well: Davis, Rondo and Nikola Mirotic. Clearly, this was a New Orleans team that showed up with something to play for.

LA ➡️ Danny ➡️ Kyle ?#GoSpursGo https://t.co/0vhqm4f3Zf

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 12, 2018

With the loss, the Spurs will either likely play the Rockets or Warriors in Round 1, pending the result of the Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game. It’s a tall task, as San Antonio only defeated Golden State without their “Big Four,” and Houston struggled mightily in their last meeting against the team from the Alamo City — something that probably will not happen again as long as James Harden and Chris Paul stay healthy.

Final from New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/lVvkBSJkl4

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 12, 2018

Next: Top 25 players in SAS history

Now, Spurs fans can wait for the playoff schedule to be announced. The postseason starts on Saturday, April 14, and should be an interesting road for the next few weeks or months.

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