The New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers came into Friday night’s matchup with something in common - both were sitting at the bottom of their respective conferences, still searching for footing in a season that’s been anything but steady. But only one team could walk away with a win, and it was the Pacers who seized the moment, pulling out a 127-119 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
For the Pelicans, this one stings. Just two nights after a promising win over the Brooklyn Nets, they couldn’t carry that momentum into Indy - despite a highly efficient night from Zion Williamson and a well-rounded scoring effort.
Let’s start with Zion. The former No. 1 pick put on a clinic in efficiency, scoring 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting.
He didn’t miss a shot until midway through the third quarter, and added six rebounds and seven assists to round out a complete performance. When Zion is playing downhill and finishing like this, he’s nearly impossible to contain - and Friday was a reminder of just how dominant he can be when he’s locked in.
But even with Zion leading the charge, the Pelicans (now 10-34) couldn’t keep pace with a Pacers team that came in ranked third-worst in the league in scoring. You wouldn’t have guessed that watching the first half - Indiana lit up the scoreboard for 73 points before halftime, and their 127 total points marked their third-highest output of the season.
“The biggest thing is they had 20 more shots on goal,” said Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego. “We did enough offensively, even though I don’t think the second half was great offensively. But we just didn’t get enough stops.”
That’s the story right there. The Pelicans shot well, moved the ball, and had six players in double figures - but defensively, they couldn’t get the stops they needed. And against a team that’s been struggling to score, that’s a missed opportunity.
Trey Murphy III continued his strong scoring stretch with 22 points, including five made threes on 14 attempts. He also chipped in five assists and four rebounds.
That’s now seven straight games with 20 or more for Murphy, who’s quietly becoming one of the Pelicans’ most consistent offensive threats. Saddiq Bey added 20 points, and Jordan Poole brought some spark off the bench with 11.
Rookie center Derik Queen posted his ninth double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 12 boards. Queen’s ability to impact the game on both ends is giving New Orleans something to build on in an otherwise tough season.
But the night belonged to the Pacers, who finally notched their 10th win of the year (10-32), tying the Pelicans in the win column. Indiana flipped the script from the last time these two teams met - a 128-109 Pelicans win back in December - and did it behind a breakout performance from Jay Huff.
The Pacers’ big man had himself a career night, dropping 29 points on 13-of-17 shooting. That’s a new personal best for Huff, whose previous high was 22. He was decisive, efficient, and made the most of every opportunity - matching Zion’s dominance with a statement game of his own.
“He made some big shots,” Borrego said. “They moved it, they shared it, they trusted it, and they played with great pace.”
That ball movement and tempo were key. Indiana’s offense looked crisp, with Pascal Siakam adding 27 points of his own to keep the pressure on New Orleans throughout.
The Pelicans actually hung tough early, trailing just 33-31 after one. But the second quarter saw the Pacers go on an 18-4 run to build a 15-point lead.
New Orleans answered with a 15-3 burst of their own to cut it to three, but Indiana took a 73-66 lead into halftime. Zion was perfect from the field at the break, going 8-for-8 for 21 points.
Still, the Pelicans couldn’t string together enough stops down the stretch. And when you give up 127 points to a team that’s struggled to score all year, that’s going to be tough to overcome - no matter how well your offense plays.
For New Orleans, it’s back to the drawing board. The pieces are there - Zion is playing at a high level, Murphy is heating up, and the young core continues to show flashes. But until the defense tightens up, wins will be hard to come by.
As for the Pacers, this one was a much-needed spark. A big night from Huff, a strong showing from Siakam, and a rare offensive explosion - maybe it’s the kind of win that can help turn things around.