The New Orleans Pelicans had another one slip away Friday night, this time a 120-119 loss to the Utah Jazz that came down to the final possession and left them staring at the same old problem.
With a chance to either tie it or win it at the end, the offense stalled out again. Dejounte Murray ended up holding the ball for a mid-range attempt that never dropped, and the Pelicans walked off with another close defeat. The ball stuck too often all night, and it showed in the numbers: New Orleans lost the assist battle 31 to 18.
The night changed in the first half when Yves Missi went down with a left knee injury after Zion Williamson fell on him. It was a brutal, awkward sequence that left Missi in obvious pain as he grabbed at his leg. He had to be helped off the floor because he couldn’t walk on his own, and he was ruled out soon after.
That loss could be the toughest blow of all. Missi has been New Orleans’ best interior defender and rebounder, and he has gotten off to a fantastic start this season. If he’s out for more than a game, the Pelicans don’t have a great answer.
Without him in the paint, Jaxson Hayes and Jaren Jackson Jr. were able to do more damage. Derik Queen has shown improvement on defense this season, but he still isn’t at Missi’s level. Even so, Queen made a big play late, picking off Keyonte George in the paint and turning it into fast-break points that pulled the game within one.
There was at least one encouraging development off the bench: Karlo Matkovic should see more run moving forward. He played nine minutes, finished plus-4, and posted seven points, four rebounds and two steals.
Saddiq Bey was the steadiest presence for New Orleans and the clearest bright spot in the box score. While the offense continues to sort itself out, he has given them a reliable floor. Bey scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Jeremiah Fears, meanwhile, struggled again. Bey closed the game in his place after Fears put up seven points and one assist while finishing with a team-worst -11. Saturday night could bring a change in the starting lineup, since that combination had problems again in this one.
Trey Murphy also needs more involvement. He came out aggressive and looked ready to get back on track, but he vanished offensively after halftime. For New Orleans, that kind of disappearing act is one more thing that can’t keep happening if they want to start turning these games into wins.
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A speculative trade idea making the rounds has the Warriors chasing Zion Williamson in a deal that would send a major veteran package back to New Orleans. The proposed framework is the kind of all-in swing that would force both sides to weigh talent, availability, and long-term flexibility, especially with Zions contract and injury history always sitting at the center of any conversation about his value.
From the Pelicans side, the appeal would be in reshaping the roster rather than simply chasing a like-for-like replacement. Any move of that size would signal a willingness to alter the timeline and build around younger pieces, while Golden State would be betting that Zions ceiling is worth the risk for a team still trying to maximize Stephen Currys window. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans 0-2 Start Just Got More Concerning After Missi Scare
The Pelicans rough opening stretch took another hit in a 120-119 loss to the Jazz, a defeat that again saw them enter the fourth quarter with a lead and fail to finish it off. New Orleans has now let a game slip away in the same way in back-to-back nights, and the frustration only deepened when center Yves Missi went down in the second quarter with a left knee injury and was helped to the locker room.
With no further update after the game, Missis status looms over an already uneasy early-season picture for New Orleans. Jamahl Mosley pointed to rebounding problems and the need for better defensive discipline, two issues that have become impossible to ignore with Denver up next and the Pelicans still searching for their first win. [Read more 🡒]
Zion Trade Idea Puts The Pelicans At A Franchise Crossroads
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For the Pelicans, the appeal would be less about the names coming back than the chance to reset around a new structure and a cleaner financial picture. Any move of this size would force the franchise to weigh health, contract value and timeline all at once, which is why these conversations keep circling the same uncomfortable question: is New Orleans still building around Williamson, or has it reached the point where exploring a different path makes more sense? [Read more 🡒]