Game Thread: Pelicans must beat Warriors to have chance to reach summer league championship game

The New Orleans Pelicans have a chance to get into the summer league championship game with a large enough victory over the Golden State Warriors Sunday night.

According to the rules this season, the two highest teams in the standings after the first four games will play in the August 17th Championship Game, and if at least one of the 3-0 Timberwolves or Pelicans win tonight, a tiebreaker will be required to decide the matter as both the Celtics and Kings are 4-0.

As of this writing, the Timberwolves are down by three points at halftime to the Sixers. If they turn things around and win, the Pelicans will have to beat the Warriors by enough points which leaves them with a better point differential through four games than Philadelphia and Sacramento. If not, then New Orleans then only has to concern themselves with finishing better than Sacramento’s +13.8 point differential. (Through three games, New Orleans has a +15.0 point differential, and the Timberwolves +16.0.)

If by the narrowest of odds that the second and third seed are tied with the exact same point differential (say Philly loses and the Pels beat the Warriors by 10 points), then a random coin flip will determine which team heads to the championship game.

Geaux Pels!

Who: New Orleans Pelicans (3-0) at Golden State Warriors (2-1)

When: August 15, 8:00 p.m. Central

Where to watch: ESPN2, ESPN app

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