CJ McCollum predicts 'lot of winning in our future' after leading New Orleans Pelicans to play-in victory over San Antonio Spurs

NEW ORLEANS — Wherever CJ McCollum goes in New Orleans right now, he says, he feels the buzz in the city about the Pelicans.

On Wednesday, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Smoothie King Center, that carried over as the Pelicans walked away with a 113-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to advance in the NBA's play-in tournament.

«This is the start of something special, for sure,» McCollum said. «You see the energy. Feel the energy. My mother is in town, I have some family in town. When we go out to eat, you can feel the city is excited about basketball, as they should [be]. There's a lot of talent here. We're playing the game the right way. It's going to be a lot of winning in our future.»

McCollum got off to a fast start, scoring 27 points in the first half, including 19 in the second quarter when he was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field.

Pelicans coach Willie Green said McCollum was the steadying and calming force for the team throughout the night.

«We just got the ball to him, and he made play after play, score after score,» Green said. «The rest of the guys started to feed of CJ. He's been in these moments. He's played on the big stage. It's no coincidence that he goes out and has the game that he has.»

McCollum finished with a game-high 32 points.

«I understood the magnitude of this game,» McCollum said. «The Spurs are always going to go on a run at some point. They are well-coached. They execute. They have a lot of great players who can shoot and score. When you get a chance to get up double digits, you have to put the pedal to the metal and try and be aggressive.»

McCollum also understood how and when to get others involved. Brandon Ingram missed the previous three games and 13 of the past 18 with a right