Jamahl Mosley finally got the win he was chasing, and the Pelicans made sure it didn’t take any late drama to do it.
New Orleans handled the Sacramento Kings 132-120 on Thursday night, snapping into the win column for the first time under Mosley and moving to 1-4 on the season. The Pelicans started slowly again, but the second quarter changed the feel of the night, and from there they kept the pressure on. Sacramento did find some offense in the fourth, though the outcome never really felt in doubt.
With Dejounte Murray sidelined because of the birth of his child, Mosley shuffled the lineup and started Herb Jones. That move paid off quickly.
Jones looked like exactly the kind of player the Pelicans have been asking for more often, logging 32 minutes and finishing as a plus-27. He put up 16 points, four rebounds, an assist and two steals, and the message was hard to miss: the team is better when he’s on the floor.
Jeremiah Fears turned in his best outing of the season, and it came with numbers that jump off the page. The young guard scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out a career-high 13 assists.
It wasn’t a spotless night for him, especially early, when Darius Acuff got loose for 34 points and Fears was targeted defensively. Still, he settled in and added value on that end too, blocking four shots and picking up two steals.
The ball movement told its own story. New Orleans finished with 32 assists, a good sign for a team that has looked most dangerous when the offense is moving freely and the passes keep coming. That’s been a theme Mosley has pushed since the season opened, and it showed up clearly in this one.
The Pelicans have Friday off before returning home on Halloween night to face the Atlanta Hawks and wrap up the homestand. A 2-1 run through this stretch would count as a major step forward.
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From there, the discussion turns to where he might land if the Pelicans decide to explore the market seriously. The analysis points to Miami and Sacramento as the most natural possibilities, two teams that could view Poole differently depending on how they build around him and what they are willing to give up. For now, it remains a speculative exercise, but it is already the sort of situation that can ripple well beyond New Orleans if it gains real traction. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Keep Sending A Frustrating Herb Jones Message
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Head coach Jamahl Mosley has already acknowledged that Jones needs more run, stressing the impact he brings defensively and the importance of getting his playing time right. Still, the adjustment has been gradual, and even in the latest game Jones remained on a limited workload as the coaching staff continues to work through the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Suddenly Have A Jordan Poole Concern They Can't Ignore
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The sequence leaves New Orleans waiting on a clearer read of Pooles status, which matters more than usual given how quickly the game shifted from a comeback attempt to a concern. The team said it will provide updates as more information becomes available, but for now the only certainty is that the Pelicans are suddenly dealing with a health issue they cant afford to dismiss. [Read more 🡒]