The New Orleans Pelicans finally put together the kind of night that can settle a restless building. On Halloween, they rolled past the Atlanta Hawks 121-99 for their first blowout win of the season and their second straight victory, moving to 2-4.
The closing minutes told the story. With the starters still out there, Jeremiah Fears, Karlo Matkovic and Trey Murphy buried three straight threes, then Zion Williamson found Murphy on a lob before tempers flared and both teams got into a scuffle.
As New Orleans headed to the bench, the players urged the crowd to get louder, and the fans answered. Even with a holiday crowd that was fairly thin, it felt like the loudest the arena has been all season.
More than anything, this was the first time the Pelicans looked like they played a full game from start to finish. Atlanta had a few brief pushes, but New Orleans kept the Hawks at a comfortable distance throughout.
The biggest reason for the change is the starting five. The group of Fears, Herb Jones, Murphy, Williamson and Matkovic has now won back-to-back, and it looks far more balanced than the lineup New Orleans opened the season with. That may shift again once everyone is back - Dejounte Murray sat out this one for rest - but there’s not much reason to mess with what’s working right now.
The numbers backed that up. Every player in that starting group finished at least plus-14, and three of them were above plus-20. Matkovic brought energy all night and was excellent, while Jones kept showing why he deserves starter minutes every game.
Still, the night belonged to Saddiq Bey. Facing his former team, he delivered a huge bench performance with 25 points on 13 shots. It was the kind of efficient scoring burst that defined a classic Bey game.
For now, the Pelicans have found a formula that fits. Their next test is a tough one on the road against a Memphis Grizzlies team that is soon to be 6-0.
In Other News...
Pelicans Are Finding Answers As Murray's Absence Tests The Rotation
Jamahl Mosley has been forced to juggle the rotation a little earlier than expected, with Dejounte Murray away for the birth of his son and Jordan Poole dealing with an ankle injury. The Pelicans responded by leaning on their depth, and Herbert Jones stepped into the starting lineup while Jeremiah Fears kept showing he can handle a bigger load when the opportunity comes.
The results have given New Orleans something to build on, with consecutive wins and a bench that has looked increasingly comfortable in expanded roles. Mosley has liked the effort and energy his group has brought through the adjustment period, and Murray was around for the second game even though he did not play as the team chose to keep him on the sideline a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Fears Is Forcing A New Pelicans Backcourt Conversation
Jeremiah Fears has turned a quiet stretch into a real conversation for the Pelicans, and it is happening fast. In his last two games, the rookie guard has looked far more like a steadying force than a player finding his way, piling up points, playmaking and activity on both ends while helping New Orleans beat Sacramento and Atlanta.
The most striking part is how quickly the discussion around his role has shifted. Coaches and analysts have started to talk about him as more than a promising young guard, with his recent play opening the door to a starting lead-guard case and even some early Most Improved Player buzz, which is not the kind of momentum a team can ignore for long. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Suddenly Face A Bigger Jordan Poole Concern
The Pelicans head into their matchup with the Hawks already juggling a long injury list, and the latest concern is the absence of Jordan Poole. New Orleans is dealing with several players listed as questionable or out, while Atlanta comes in with multiple doubtful or unavailable names of its own, even as all of its starters are expected to be ready.
Pooles situation adds another layer of uncertainty for a team trying to steady itself through the early grind. He is sidelined with an ankle issue, and the bigger problem for New Orleans is the lack of clarity around when he might be back, leaving the Pelicans to manage both the game in front of them and a rotation hole that could linger. [Read more 🡒]