The New Orleans Pelicans could not overcome a historic poor begin Sunday night time, dropping 118-85 to the New York Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard within the second recreation of a three-game street journey. The Pelicans misplaced their eighth straight recreation, marking the ninth straight lack of at the least eight video games in franchise historical past. The staff document for consecutive losses is 13, set through the 2019-20 season, Zion Williamson’s rookie 12 months.
Bridges Sparks scores beautiful victory for Knicks
Mikal Bridges had a stellar efficiency for New York with a game-high 31 factors on 12-of-19 taking pictures, together with bombarding the Pelicans with seven makes from past the three-point arc. Bridges set the tone early, serving to the Knicks take a 33-10 first-quarter lead that put virtually all doubts to relaxation after 12 minutes. Karl-Anthony Cities dominated inside, posting 14 factors and a game-high 19 rebounds, together with 17 within the first half. Jalen Brunson added 16 factors and 9 assists, whereas Miles McBride led the reserve with 13 factors coming off the bench.
Pelicans falter early and sometimes
New Orleans performed with out ardour or capability from the beginning, lacking 15 straight photographs in almost 9 minutes whereas being outscored 23-1. The ten factors scored within the first quarter symbolize the second worst offensive opening sequence in franchise historical past (9 as of 12/21/2004). The Pelicans trailed by 23 factors after the opening interval and by no means recovered, dropping simply 28 factors within the first half, their lowest of the season and one of many worst in franchise historical past .
As soon as once more with out Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, who appeared to be having enjoyable on the sidelines, New Orleans struggled mightily, taking pictures simply 37 p.c from the sphere and 4 of 27 from three-point vary. Head coach Willie Inexperienced acknowledged the uphill battle his staff faces, however careworn the significance of resilience. “We’ve to struggle our manner out of this,” Inexperienced mentioned. “It’s about execution and confidence.”
The Pelicans didn’t execute and followers are dropping religion in Inexperienced, a few of his gamers and the group.
CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 13 factors, whereas Trey Murphy III and rookie Yves Missi contributed 11 every. Missi added eight rebounds, together with six offensive rebounds, in a shiny spot for the in any other case overmatched Pelicans.
Glove to come back
The street forward does not get any simpler for the Pelicans, who now sit at 4-17 on the season. Over their subsequent 5 video games, they face a tricky slate of opponents with a mixed document of 61-39. The streak begins Monday night time in Atlanta in opposition to the 10-11 Hawks earlier than returning dwelling to face Phoenix (11-8) adopted by OKC (15-5) earlier than hitting the street once more to face San Antonio (10-9) , and Houston (15-6).
With the Pelicans already 1-10 on the street and their final away win approaching October 25, ending this dropping streak would require main adjustments, in philosophy and probably personnel. . The staff should present progress shortly to keep away from approaching the franchise document of 13 consecutive losses from 4 seasons in the past.
The Pelicans face a steep climb and a tricky schedule forward. They probably will not be favored to win a recreation till their Jan. 3 matchup in opposition to the Wizards. It stays to be seen whether or not they can flip issues round – or sink additional into the franchise’s historical past for the fallacious causes.
It looks like time has already handed for this incarnation of the Pelicans, who want to shut the season 38-23 (.622) to publish a 3rd straight profitable document, the identical document that they had of their final 61 video games of a season. There may be.
Nonetheless, final season’s Pelicans have been exceptionally wholesome and had rather a lot going for them. They usually did not begin the season like that.
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