Jose Alvarado had the game of his life Sunday afternoon.
ALVARADO BALLED OUT‼️
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 4, 2022
He scored the most points by an undrafted player in Pelicans history pic.twitter.com/mOLDwNnJy2
The undrafted second-year pro from Georgia Tech finished with 38 points, the most by any player off the bench this season.
Jose Alvarado off the bench:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 4, 2022
38 PTS
12-19 FG
8-11 3P
Most points off the bench by any player this season. pic.twitter.com/R226b1KLL7
His remarkable performance ended with him as the franchise record-holder for most points in a game by an undrafted player and most points by a player off the bench.
Jose Alvarado up to 36 points, the most by an undrafted player in franchise history.
— Pelicans PR (@PelicansPR) December 4, 2022
Jose Alvarado’s 38-point performance marks the most points off the bench in franchise history, surpassing Marcus Thornton’s 37 (2/23/2010).
— Pelicans PR (@PelicansPR) December 4, 2022
He was the reason New Orleans beat Denver, single-handedly putting the team on his back. When he entered the game, New Orleans trailed 29-16. Alvarado was plus-21 in 27 minutes and the team won, 121-106.
He hit eight 3s and drew a standing ovation when Willie Green emptied the bench with a minute remaining.
Chants of “Jose!” could be heard throughout the Smoothie King Arena and Alvarado was beaming as he took it all in.
Massive “Jo-se” chant for Jose Alvarado breaks out after he scores career-high 38 points and the Pelicans close out victory. pic.twitter.com/ze7OCKFKu9
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 4, 2022
To say Alvarado never had a game like the one he had against Denver is not an exaggeration.
Jose Alvarado never had a 30-point game at Georgia Tech in 106 career games.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) December 4, 2022
He's up to 34 points and counting with 5:46 left on this Sunday afternoon in New Orleans.
Also, his 8 3-pointers *doubles* his previous career high from deep (in NOLA or at Ga Tech).
His ascendence is at the crux of the Pelicans' climb to second in the Western Conference.
He burst on the scene with phenomenal defense performances during the Pelicans' playoff push a season ago. His energy off the bench is essential to the team’s success and it permeated throughout the roster on Sunday.
New Orleans fields the deepest team in basketball. The team didn't miss a beat without Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones against the Nuggets.
With Alvarado, Trey Murphy III, Naji Marshall, Dyson Daniels, and Larry Nance Jr., the team has several plug-and-play options that can keep the team afloat when members of the starting-five miss time.
New Orleans (15-8) has won four in a row. The team is 9-3 at home and plays its next three in New Orleans.
After a game against Detroit (6-18) on Wednesday, the Pelicans have a huge back-to-back against the Phoenix Suns (16-7) on Friday and next Sunday. It's conceivable that by this time next week, the Pelicans will be first in the West.
The sky is the limit for this Pelicans squad. Alvarado will be a defining player wherever this season goes.
"It was a joy to watch," said Green after the game; a joy to him, and everyone else.
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