In a near upset, the 8-32 New Orleans Pelicans nearly upset the team that sits in the second place in the entire Western conference: the Boston Celtics, and they had some help from a face that is pretty familiar to Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket fans: Jose Alvarado.
While Alvarado came off the bench for the Pelicans, he has looked good in the games that he has played in since coming back from a hamstring injury that sidelined the former Yellow Jacket star for two months. Alvarado has scored at least nine points in the team’s last four games.
This time, the Pelicans nearly knocked of the Celtics, with Alvarado scoring nine points in the contest, the second-most of any player on the bench for the Pelicans. The three-year veteran understood his role on the team for the game, as he did not record an assist, steal, or rebound for the team. All nine points came way of behind the three-point line, making three of his four shots from beyond the arc.
Alvarado is having a personal-best season with the Pelicans this year, as he is averaging a career-high in minutes per game (23.6), assists per game (4.3), and three pointers made per game (2.1).
Once Alvarado fully heals, it’s expected that his minutes will increase, as he will be competing with multiple other guards for the sixth man role on the team throughout the season, and he currently sits at ninth best on the team.
Alvarado and the Pelicans will be in action again on Tuesday, Jan. 14 against the Chicago Bulls.