Pelicans-Pacers: Elfrid Payton’s career night spoiled | Pelicans

The New Orleans NBA franchise’s leader in triple-doubles isn’t hard to guess.

Chris Paul is at the top of this list. In his six years as a Hornet, he had 11.

The name immediately after Paul is harder to figure out. Elfrid Payton, the Gretna native who hasn’t even appeared in 50 games for New Orleans, has six triple-doubles, more than any Hornet or Pelican other than Paul.

In Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, Payton nearly recorded his seventh triple-double. His 14 points, seven rebounds and 21 assists helped New Orleans overcome an early double-digit deficit and make the game competitive.

Still, the Pelicans failed to make enough shots in the fourth quarter, and Payton’s stellar performance was wiped out in a 114-110 road loss.

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton made nine 3-pointers – the same number of treys New Orleans made as a team.

With 1:31 left, Payton found CJ McCollum for a layup. Payton’s 20th assist of the night helped New Orleans extend Indiana’s lead to one point.

On the Pelicans’ next possession, Payton missed a floater. Then Trey Murphy and McCollum failed on a good 3-pointer that could have tied the game.

New Orleans didn’t score in the final minute, aside from Javonte Green’s basket at the buzzer when the game was already decided.

The Pelicans fell to 4-14 overall. They are in last place in the Western Conference.

McCollum returned to the lineup Monday after missing 13 games with an adductor strain. He scored 23 points in his first game since October 29th.

More reinforcements will arrive later this week. Dejounte Murray is expected to play in Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. Murray last played in the regular-season opener at New Orleans on Oct. 23. He is recovering from a broken left hand.

Murphy led New Orleans with 24 points. Haliburton scored a game-high 34 points.

The Pacers shot 17 of 47 from 3-point territory. They made eight more 3-pointers than the Pelicans, a deficit too big to overcome.

Payton’s 21 assists were the most by a Pelicans player in a game in nearly six years. Rajon Rondo dished out 25 assists on December 17, 2017.