This is why the Pelicans traded for CJ McCollum.

The sharpshooter acquired by New Orleans midseason outscored San Antonio Spurs starters by himself in the first half en route to a 113-103 Pelicans win on Wednesday to stay alive for the playoffs. The Pelicans advance to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday with the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs at stake. The loser's season will be done.

McCollum, who's averaged a career-best 24.3 points per game since joining the Pelicans from the Portland Trail Blazers in February, torched the Spurs for 27 points in the first half. He closed the second quarter with an exclamation-point bucket in traffic to send New Orleans into the break with a 61-50 lead.

He slowed down in the second half to finish with 32 points, alongside seven assists and six rebounds, but got plenty of help from Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas and rookie Herb Jones, who continues to emerge as a 3-and-D threat.

Jones, who's been one of the NBA's best wing defenders all season, finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks. He showed off for a national TV audience with this third-quarter sequence that included a block and a steal on the same possession.

Jones made made his presence felt most of the night whether taking a charge or connecting on 2-of-4 3-point shots. Ingram, meanwhile finished with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists while Valanciunas tallied 22 points and 14 rebounds in the post.

Zion teases Pelicans fans

It was a strong all-around effort from the Pelicans that begged the question: How would they look with Zion Williamson in the lineup? Williamson, who missed the entire regular season with a foot injury, teased fans with a 360-dunk in warmups.

But he remained in street clothes for the game with no indication that he'll be ready to go if New Orleans does advance to the playoffs — even though he hasn't been ruled out for the postseason.

Popovich not interested in retirement talk

The Spurs didn't go down without a fight. Trailing by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, they cut their deficit to 97-91 in the fourth while holding the Pelicans without a field goal for 6:06 during a 16-1 run. Breakout second-year wing Devin Vassell led the Spurs' charge in a 23-point effort while connecting on 7-of-13 3-point attempts. But the Pelicans didn't let the Spurs within six points the rest of the way as they kept hope alive for more basketball at the Smoothie King Center this season.

For a young Spurs team, the loss means a third straight season out of the playoffs after 22 straight postseason appearances under Popovich. The 73-year-old five-time NBA champion head coach declined postgame to address speculation that he might retire, calling a question on the subject "inappropriate."