Photo by: Layne Murdoch Jr.
The New Orleans Pelicans kicked off their 2024-25 preseason with a narrow 106-104 victory over the Orlando Magic at the Smoothie King Center. Fans were eager to see Zion Williamson, who delivered an impressive performance alongside newly acquired point guard Dejounte Murray. The duo displayed immediate chemistry, highlighted by a key moment late in the first half when Murray fed Williamson a bounce pass for one of his eight first-half buckets.
Williamson led the charge with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, also grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out three assists in just 19 minutes of play. “With Dejounte, I was telling him—I was making a joke,” Williamson said postgame. “I joked with (him) and CJ, ‘It’s my first time in a while playing with a real point guard, man.'"
Murray, acquired in a high-profile offseason move, looked comfortable orchestrating the offense, spreading the ball effectively, and creating scoring opportunities for Williamson and others. The Pelicans' starting five featured Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Williamson, and Daniel Theis.
Hawkins Shines Off the Bench
Second-year guard Jordan Hawkins emerged as a standout off the bench, pouring in 18 points in 21 minutes. His fearless play extended the Pelicans’ lead, including a deep 26-foot pull-up 3-pointer in the third quarter that gave New Orleans a double-digit advantage. Williamson praised Hawkins, noting, "Hawk can bring a lot to this team. His confidence was never a problem."
Brandon Ingram Sits Out
Although the Pelicans played most of their regulars, star forward Brandon Ingram was a notable absentee. However, head coach Willie Green assured fans there was no cause for concern. “He’s fine,” Green said. “This is just a game that everyone is on the same page as far as Brandon not playing. His whole mental space is preparing for the regular season.”
Defense Leads to Turnovers
New Orleans' defense proved effective, forcing 23 Magic turnovers, converting them into 26 points. Five Pelicans players registered two steals each, displaying the intensity Green has emphasized during training camp. “I loved the fact that all the concepts we are working on in training camp, you can see a lot of carryover,” Green said postgame. “That’s what preseason is for.”
Looking Ahead
The Pelicans will play their second preseason game on Friday in Orlando before returning home to prepare for the start of the regular season on October 23 against the Chicago Bulls.
Game Stats:
- Zion Williamson: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists (8-11 FG, 19 minutes)
- Jordan Hawkins: 18 points (21 minutes)
- Dejounte Murray: 8 points, 6 assists
- CJ McCollum: 3 three-pointers
- Team: 23 forced turnovers, 26 points off turnovers
With preseason well underway, the Pelicans are beginning to shape up as a dangerous team, and the potential shown by both the starters and bench players offers plenty of reasons for optimism heading into the new season.
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