The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t make life easy on themselves Saturday in Las Vegas. They spent most of the afternoon chasing the Charlotte Hornets, fell behind by as many as 18 points, and still walked off with a 95-91 win for their first Summer League victory after opening the tournament with a loss.
That kind of swing is exactly what Summer League is built for. The Pelicans were tested, forced to adjust, and then closed the game with the kind of urgency that changed everything in the final period.
Charlotte had the upper hand for most of the game. The Hornets opened with a 33-22 lead after the first quarter, kept control through halftime, and carried a 76-65 advantage into the fourth. Then New Orleans flipped the script.
The Pelicans poured in 30 points in the fourth quarter and held Charlotte to 15. That surge was driven by defense, with New Orleans turning pressure into turnovers, transition chances, and easy baskets when the game was slipping away.
Hunter Dickinson was at the center of it. He finished with 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting, hit three 3-pointers, and added three rebounds and three assists. When New Orleans needed a bucket, Dickinson kept coming through, and his mix of inside scoring and floor spacing gave Charlotte problems after halftime.
Kobe Bufkin also kept his strong run going. The former first-round guard posted 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals, filling up the stat sheet in every direction. His shot from the perimeter wasn’t always there, but he made his presence felt by attacking, defending, and creating for others during the comeback.
New Orleans got useful minutes from several others as well. Jalon Moore scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds, while Jaron Pierre Jr. added 12 points despite an uneven shooting night. Melvin Council Jr. brought energy off the bench with six points and solid defense, and Malik Dia chipped in six points and four rebounds.
The numbers make the formula clear. New Orleans was out rebounded 49-30 and shot a lower percentage than Charlotte, but it still found a way to win by forcing 22 Hornets turnovers and committing only seven of its own. The Pelicans also finished with 13 steals and 20 assists, and their fourth-quarter rotations on defense were sharp enough to swing the game.
It was more than just a comeback win. It showed a group of young players responding when things went sideways, staying composed, and letting defense and ball movement carry them home.
That’s the kind of result Hunter Dickinson and Kobe Bufkin can build on, and it’s the kind of performance that fits the tone God Shammgod is trying to set with this Summer League group. The Pelicans looked like a team willing to compete no matter the score.
New Orleans is back in action Sunday afternoon against the Phoenix Suns in its third Summer League game.
In Other News...
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Pelicans Just Sent A Clear Message About This Core
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The changes are aimed at the same issues that have lingered for a while: defense, player development and a more consistent offense. With the new setup, the Pelicans are betting they can get more out of their existing group, especially the younger players who stand to benefit from a different development environment, while also giving the offense a chance to look less static and more connected. [Read more 🡒]