The New Orleans Pelicans are in the middle of a road trip that, on paper, looked like a gauntlet. Facing the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder - three teams they hadn’t beaten all season - the odds weren’t exactly stacked in their favor. But this team has flipped the script in a big way.
After dropping their first seven games against those three squads earlier in the year, the Pelicans have come out swinging. They took down the Grizzlies on Friday, then followed it up with a gritty win over the Spurs on Sunday. Now, with a bit of momentum finally on their side, they head into Tuesday’s showdown with the Thunder looking to complete the sweep.
What’s changed? For starters, this team is figuring out how to close games - something that’s haunted them for much of the season.
Against San Antonio, they strung together a 13-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 104-95 win. That’s the kind of execution that wins playoff games, not just regular-season matchups in January.
And it wasn’t just one or two guys stepping up. The Pelicans got a balanced, high-effort performance across the board.
Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey both posted identical lines: 24 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Yves Missi came off the bench and delivered a double-double - 10 points and 14 rebounds, with 10 of those boards coming in the first half alone.
Trey Murphy chipped in 17 points, nine assists, and six rebounds in a do-it-all performance. That’s the kind of depth and versatility that gives teams problems.
Then there’s Herb Jones. Still working his way back from an ankle injury, Jones played in just his second game since returning and gave the Pelicans a little bit of everything - nine points, three rebounds, two blocks, and his usual brand of disruptive defense.
The numbers don’t lie: since James Borrego took over as interim head coach 12 games into the season, the Pelicans are 7-6 when Jones plays. Without him?
Just 3-20. His impact, especially on the defensive end, is as real as it gets.
Speaking of Borrego, his influence is starting to show. The Pelicans have now won two straight with a starting five of Williamson, Murphy, Jones, Bey, and rookie Derik Queen.
That group brings a blend of athleticism, shooting, and defensive toughness - and it’s working. Sunday’s game wasn’t easy.
The Pelicans built a 20-point lead in the third quarter, only to see the Spurs erase it and tie things up at 88 midway through the fourth. In the past, that might’ve been the beginning of the end.
Not this time.
“By understanding that this is a game of runs,” Zion said postgame. “We had a lot of runs earlier in the game.
They are one of the best teams in the West for a reason. They made a run.
We responded well.”
That response - staying composed, locking in on defense, and executing down the stretch - is what separates teams trying to find themselves from teams figuring out how to win.
Borrego echoed that sentiment, pointing to the team’s defensive effort and commitment to winning the possession game. “We talked about winning the possession game, and we thought that’s where it would be won for us,” he said.
“We could turn them over and keep our turnovers down and obviously win the boards. We were crashing the boards.
Second-chance opportunities. Just great effort tonight on both ends.”
Now comes the real test. The Pelicans head to Oklahoma City to face a Thunder team that’s been one of the league’s best all season.
At 37-10, OKC leads the NBA in defensive rating and started the year on a blistering 24-1 run. But even the league’s elite hit rough patches - the Thunder have dropped three of their last five, including back-to-back losses to the Pacers and Raptors.
Still, the Thunder have had the Pelicans’ number. New Orleans has lost 12 straight to OKC, including a sweep in the first round of the 2023-24 playoffs.
Their last win against the Thunder? November 1, 2023.
To snap that streak, the Pelicans will need more of the same - defensive intensity, balanced scoring, and poise in crunch time. They’ve shown they can do it. Now it’s about doing it against the best team in the West.
If this road trip was supposed to be a measuring stick, the Pelicans are proving they’re more than ready for the challenge.