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New Orleans Pelicans · In continuing their upward flight, the New Orleans Pelicans have fittingly, for the fifth-consecutive season, surpassed the previous season’s win total. On the backs of a 49-win season, their most since 2008-09, New Orleans enters the Play-In Tournament as one of the NBA’s most well-rounded teams, boasting both a top-half offense and defense. Untimely injuries, particularly to Ingram, towards the season’s end curtailed their progress slightly, yet even so, the Pelicans remain both formidable and historic. Amidst one of the NBA’s highest-scoring seasons ever, the league had 50 different players average at least 20 points per game; the Pelicans were one of only three teams with three different players to do so, in Zion Williamson (22.9), Brandon Ingram (20.8), and CJ McCollum (20.0). With no shortage of talent beneath that, New Orleans also rosters an All-Defensive Team candidate in Herbert Jones, as well as steady contributors such as third-year swingman Trey Murphy III and Jonas Valanciunas. Eyeing their first series win since 2017-18, New Orleans has proven plenty capable of defeating the NBA’s best when healthy. · State of Mint