Zion Williamson is back on the court, looking like an All-Star. New Orleans’ starting five – which only got 10 games as a group last season – is back together. Early in 2023-24, the rest seems to be taking care of itself.
For a second straight game to open the regular season, the Pelicans shut down the opposition for extended stretches Saturday and generated more than enough offense to win comfortably. New York only managed 12 first-quarter points and trailed virtually the entire night (holding a brief two-point lead). New Orleans won its home opener for the first time since 2020. Williamson was superb with 24 points, while fellow starting forward Brandon Ingram led the hosts with 26.
THREE POINTS
The defense is doing significant damage.
Led by the menace of Herb Jones all over the court, the Pelicans’ Week 1 featured Memphis struggling to get to 100 points and New York not coming close, a rarity in today’s prolific NBA. On Saturday, Jones drew charges, blocked an RJ Barrett three-point attempt and helped hold Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson to 4/14 shooting, along with other disruptiveness. Williamson on Jones, who blocked three shots: “Somehow he's improving on defense – I didn't think that was possible.”
The ‘best freakin’ duo’ at its best.
Safe to say when a team’s starting forwards combine to shoot 23/34 from the field, the chances of winning are sky-high. Williamson took it right to New York all game and finished 12/17 in only 26 minutes of action, while Ingram was a nearly identical 11/17. Pelicans third-year head coach Willie Green called the pair of recent All-Stars “the best freakin’ duo in the league" after Wednesday’s triumph at Memphis; they turned in an even better performance Saturday.
Matt Ryan/Jordan Hawkins are providing a shooting boost.
It’s only two games, but three-point shooting hasn’t been a negative factor. Top three-point gunner Trey Murphy (knee) may be sidelined from a club that already didn’t shoot many treys last season relative to the rest of the NBA, but lottery pick Hawkins and recent signee Ryan have helped at the arc. Hawkins sank his first three trifectas Saturday, now 4/8 over two games. Ryan canned three threes at Memphis in a pivotal second quarter. Of Hawkins, Williamson said after Saturday’s victory, “That brother can shoot. He’s got a pure shot.”
BY THE NUMBERS
36.7: New York shooting percentage from the field. Brunson’s 4/14 and Julius Randle’s 4/15 night were proof of exemplary New Orleans defense.
13: New Orleans turnovers, a much better job of taking care of the ball than Wednesday, when the Pelicans committed 21 at Memphis.
8: Pelicans steals, paced by four thefts from CJ McCollum.