By Eric Jay Santos
On Saturday, the New Orleans Pelicans took a 123-92 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Zion Williamson returned to action after missing two games due to a non-COVID illness. Dejounte Murray, however, was listed as inactive due to right elbow bursitis and a right index finger sprain.
Williamson’s double-double performance consisted of a team-high 28 points and 11 rebounds. Trey Murphy III, Jordan Hawkins, and Yves Missi each contributed double-digits in scoring for the Pelicans. New Orleans struggled with their three-point shooting, going 8-for-31 on their attempts from deep range.
LaMelo Ball totaled 25 points, seven assists, and five rebounds for Charlotte. Prior to the match, Pelicans head coach Willie Green told reporters that he believes Ball has developed well for the Hornets.
“I like the way he’s handled all of the notoriety and the pressure that comes with being a top-level talent like he is,” Green said. “We’ve seen him grow and get better every season.”
Charlotte established a firm 63-45 lead by halftime and continued to outpace the Pelicans throughout the second half of play. The Pelicans’ loss can be attributed to a lack of depth in the rotation. Headlined by Seth Curry, Charlotte’s bench players combined for 52 points. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ Javonte Green and Jose Alvarado came off the bench to add 13 points to the score.
New Orleans now holds a 12-34 season record. They are on a two-game losing streak.
