Postgame wrap: Pelicans 124, 76ers 114

The latter half of November has been extremely kind to New Orleans on its home floor. Now that some of the Pelicans’ premier shooting threats are on their way back to the Smoothie King Center hardwood, December could be even better. In CJ McCollum’s first game action in three-plus weeks Wednesday, New Orleans rolled to a 20-point halftime lead over Philadelphia and posted a double-digit victory against the elite Eastern Conference squad.

The 76ers were playing without league MVP Joel Embiid (illness), while the Pelicans are anticipating the season debut of dynamic forward Trey Murphy and a return from injury by three-point specialist Matt Ryan. Both Murphy and Ryan were upgraded to doubtful on the injury report this week. McCollum had not played since Nov. 4, but quickly made an impact Wednesday, scoring 11 first-half points and finishing with 20. Meanwhile, Zion Williamson came close to delivering a perfect game shooting-wise, dropping in 33 points on 11/11 from the floor and 11/12 at the foul line.

The nest is becoming inhospitable for guests.
The Pelicans have now won five of their last six home games and haven’t dropped a contest on their floor with Williamson in uniform since Nov. 12 vs. Dallas. Wednesday’s mostly one-sided affair added to a recent run that’s featured multiple routs, such as a 36-pointer over Sacramento and a 21-point margin against the Mavericks, not to mention a five-point win against defending NBA champion Denver.
Stopping (new) option 1A.
Once Embiid was ruled out not long before tip-off Wednesday, New Orleans was able to focus to an even greater degree on slowing down likely All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey. The rising standout still got 33 points, but needed 25 shots to do so, scoring 15 first-half points on 14 shots. He also had three early turnovers. The rest of Philadelphia’s roster was unable to do much damage, with its non-Maxey starters all quiet or inefficient.
Early-season starting group reunited.
The first unit of Wednesday’s game only had three previous instances together this season and is now 3-1 overall. Combined with a recent lineup that features Dyson Daniels instead of McCollum that is 5-1, New Orleans has been very good when it is close to full strength (albeit still without Murphy). The other shuffled first units have had much more difficulty getting out to fast starts and winning games. New Orleans led 39-24 through Wednesday’s opening quarter and every starter finished at least plus-10 in plus-minus.

33: Pelicans assists Wednesday. Seven players dished out at least three, including every starter. New Orleans also won rebounding 41-30.
4/5: New Orleans made more three-pointers than its opponent in four of its first five games of the regular season.
2/13: New Orleans only made more three-pointers than its opponent twice in the next 13 games, a stretch nearly corresponding with McCollum’s 12 DNPs due to lung injury. Philadelphia ultimately won the category 14-10 on Wednesday, but it was 6-4 Pelicans at halftime.