In December of 2011 Eric Gordon was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the New Orleans Hornets. Tonight, over three years later, Eric Gordon finally faced the team which drafted him for the first time since being traded from it.

Gordon reached a season high 28 points while dishing out 7 assists and shooting 5/7 from deep.

He played a nearly perfect game and ended it by telling Fox Sports reporter Jen Hale that his teammates deserved significant credit, claiming Tyreke Evans was one of the most serious triple-double threats in the league, and Alexis Ajinca was capable of providing a dominant offensive presence.

Watching this game I realized what this team would be if Gordon had lived up to his superstar potential. This game could have been in an alternate universe, Anthony Davis being out with a groin strain coincided with the fact that if Gordon reached that level, the team likely would have been too good to draft him in 2012.

Watching Gordon lead this (25-22) Pelicans team against the (32-15) Clippers as a first option without Davis or Jrue Holiday is the closest we will get to that alternate universe — a universe where Anthony Davis gets drafted by the Bobcats and the Pelicans become Gordon’s team, remaining perpetually in the 9th seed.

Regardless, the game was a nail biter.

Towards the end of the first half, the Clippers had outscored the Pelicans 26-12 in the paint and Deandre Jordan was feasting on Omer Asik‘s limited athleticism. Both teams were trading baskets and though Gordon was feeling it, the Pelicans were clearly missing Anthony Davis, and the impact he provides.

Jan 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) is defended by New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Clippers 108-103. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The third quarter was when the Pelicans rose to the occasion. They out-scored the Clippers 35-22 and Tyreke continued his recent trend of prioritizing passing and assisting over individual scoring. Strangely enough, Tyreke Evans recent play has mirrored one person in specific, a formerly “in his prime” Jason Kidd.

The ‘prime’ Jason Kidd averaged 16.9 points, 10.8 assists, and 6.8 rebounds. Kidd shot 46% from the field and 36% from deep. Tyreke Evans over his last 5 games has averaged 16.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds, while shooting 48% from the field, and 35% from deep.

I’m not saying Tyreke Evans is as good as a ‘prime’ Kidd was, but his ability to bully smaller guards into the lane coupled with his recent streak of unselfishness and court vision has clearly been a factor in the Pelicans ability to succeed on the offensive end.

Tonight was also Austin Rivers historic homecoming, he put up a respectable 10 points on 4/8 shooting which would have been considered a fantastic game for him while he was still in NOLA.

Though Jimmer Fredette managed to embarrass him in the third, forcing Rivers to bite on a pump-fake and then hurling into him 24 feet away from the basket to earn himself three easy free throws.

The fourth quarter was when the Clippers turned on the heat, former Hornet Chris Paul to be specific. Paul ended with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.

Jan 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) defends New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Most of his points he scored in the 4th quarter and most of them were from mid-range. He was able to force switches out of pick-and-rolls so that Ryan Anderson was forced to help, and then abuse Anderson due to his limited speed and vertical.

If Anthony Davis were around to swat his normal couple shots into the stands, I doubt Paul would have been able to take such clear advantage.

Dante Cunningham and Quincy Pondexter also showed chemistry playing together instead of as alternates. On one play, Cunningham leaped for an offensive rebound, tipped it to Q-Pon (who was already falling into the stands), and then Pondexter threw the ball in mid-air at a Clipper so the Pelicans could gain possession once it went out-of-bounds.

Jan 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (44) dunks over Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Clippers 108-103. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

With just under 24 seconds left, Jamal Crawford hit a moving three to put the Clippers within one possession. Gordon was clearly in control of the game, and deserved to take the final free throws, but he received the ball and took two quick dribbles before unselfishly looking for Jimmer Fredette. Jimmer iced 2-2 at the line giving the Pelicans a 5 point lead.

The Pelicans closed out the game winning it 108-103, reminding Chris Paul they aren’t still just a lottery team. The Pelicans next 4 games include the Thunder twice, in addition to the Hawks and Bulls.

The Western Conference playoff race isn’t over, but the Pelicans need to harness this momentum in order to be a part of it, these next two games against OKC very well could decide who eventually earns that 8th seed spot. At the moment, the Pelicans remain two games behind Phoenix (27-20) for the 8th and final Playoff spot…..