Jeremiah Fears turned 20 and played like a guy ready to own the Pelicans’ backcourt.
In New Orleans’ 101-97 preseason win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, Fears stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals while shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep. But the numbers only tell part of the story. He was everywhere - slashing, creating, defending, and finishing plays with a confidence that made him hard to ignore.
Jamahl Mosley kept rolling out different looks for the third straight game, and this time the starting group featured Fears, Bennedict Mathurin, Saddiq Bey, Karlo Matkovic and Yves Missi. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III came off the bench, while Dejounte Murray missed his second straight game with a toe injury. Dallas was without Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
Fears made the most of the spotlight. He hit a catch-and-shoot corner three, scored on a putback layup, and hammered home a monster dunk after an offensive rebound.
His passing was just as sharp, whether he was slipping defenders for lobs to Yves Missi, finding Bennedict Mathurin for a corner three, or dropping the ball off to Saddiq Bey in the dunker spot. Defensively, he stayed active, held his ground, battled on the glass, and even picked off a pass in mid-air to trigger a New Orleans bucket going the other way.
The highlight sequence of the night may have been the nasty ankle-breaker he put on Sergio De Larrea before knocking down the three.
I’ve been all in on Fears as franchise point guard since the second half of his rookie season, and that isn’t changing. While his preseason in general has been strong, what we saw from him Wednesday night at all levels of the game is more of a sign than ever that the time to build around him is now.
Jordan Poole also made his case to be in the opening lineup, even if the box score didn’t jump off the page. He finished with four points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 17 minutes, going 1-of-3 from the floor and 2-of-2 at the line, with both of his three-point attempts coming up empty.
Still, Poole’s value went beyond scoring. He brought real energy on defense, getting into passing lanes, swiping at the ball, talking through switches and staying disciplined. He may never be mistaken for an elite defender, but if he can hold up on that end while still giving New Orleans the shot creation and shooting he brings, there’s a strong argument for him to start.
It’s unclear what Mosley will do for the final preseason game against Washington, but if he gives the opening-night group another look, Poole should be part of it.
Then there was Karlo Matkovic, who earned himself his own nickname from the broadcast crew: “Karlo's Korner.” After missing his first right-corner three, he hit his next three and finished 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, along with 11 points and two rebounds in 18 minutes.
That kind of spacing matters for a team built around Zion Williamson. Matkovic’s ability to stretch the floor gives New Orleans another weapon when Zion gets downhill, and the pairing should see more time together. At 25, he fits what the Pelicans need now and later, and he’s been one of the real bright spots of the preseason.
In Other News...
Jamahl Mosley Is Attacking The Pelicans Biggest Habit Problem
A different tone is taking hold around the Pelicans as Jamahl Mosley tries to clean up one of the teams most persistent issues: habits that linger too long before anyone addresses them. Rather than waiting around for a full 10-game evaluation block, the staff is leaning into shorter, more immediate checks that mirror the urgency of the playoffs, with accountability and clear communication front and center.
Mosleys broader point is simple enough for a veteran room to hear and a young one to absorb: mistakes cannot be allowed to become normal. The coaching staff is treating every player as if the details still need to be taught from the ground up, which says plenty about how seriously this group is approaching assignments, shared responsibility and the basics that tend to decide whether a team tightens up or keeps drifting. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Stars Drew National Attention For One Reason Fans Will Debate
CBS Sports latest top 100 NBA players list brought two Pelicans into the national conversation, and it gave New Orleans fans plenty to pick apart. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy both made the cut, with Williamson coming in at No. 56 and Murphy at No. 50, a pairing that says plenty about how the league views the Pelicans core heading into the season.
Williamsons place on the list reflects a step back from where he stood a year ago, as CBS noted the dip was tied to career-low production while he operated in a reduced offensive role to help protect his health. Murphys ranking, meanwhile, underscores how far he has come as a shooter and all-around piece, even if the next step is still hanging out there for him and for New Orleans: proving he can be the guy who finishes games when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Suddenly Need More From Bennedict Mathurin Than Just Scoring
With Dejounte Murray sidelined by a toe contusion, the Pelicans are staring at a stretch where Bennedict Mathurin may have to do more than what first drew him to the roster. New Orleans brought him in with the expectation that he would adjust his game to fit alongside Zion Williamson, but the injury to Murray changes the picture quickly and could push Mathurin into a broader role sooner than planned.
Mathurin has already said he understands the need to help the team win and to stay healthy rather than chase individual numbers, and that mindset will matter if his responsibilities expand the way the Pelicans now need. Scoring has never been the question with him, but the next phase could involve more ball-handling, more creation for others and tougher work on the defensive end, all of it a test of how quickly his game can evolve. [Read more 🡒]