The Pelicans kicked off the 2024-25 NBA season, in the Smoothie King Center, taking on the Chicago Bulls.
The first half belonged to Bulls guard Zach LaVine, as he put the team on his back to keep the game close headed into halftime. He accounted for 19 first half points.
Heading into the second half, it was a completely different game. The Pels turned up the defensive effort which led to numerous steals and blocks. Lavine couldn’t withstand his offensive output and instead was converted into a turnover machine.
Ingram started to get in rhythm as the score began to separate. He shot 8/10 in the second half, and finished with a game-high 33 points and seven rebounds.
He would help push the Pels to a 123- 111 in the season opener.
Dejounte Murray came in and played his role exactly as expected. He didn’t shoot particularly well, but he stuffed the stat sheet with 10 assists, eight rebounds and only one turnover.
Unfortunately for Pels fans, Murray will be absent for the next four to six weeks as he undergoes surgery. He sustained a left-hand fracture late in the fourth quarter.
With a big loss comes a big gain, as Murray moves out the lineup, in comes Zion Williamson.
Williamson missed the opener as he was dealing with an illness, and boy, did they need him big time.
The Pels traveled northwest to face off against a young, unproven Portland Trail Blazers team, and they were pushed to their limit.
The story for the Blazers was forward Jerami Grant.
He was shooting every ball that came his way and that method gave him 18 in the first half.
The Pels got off to a slow start, shooting only 5/22 in the first quarter. They were down big but cut the deficit to 10 heading into halftime.
It was a neck-and-neck game all the way until the final minutes, that’s when the true art of basketball began.
Even with Williamson back the method did not change: give Brandon Ingram the ball.
With a minute left he received the ball off a dribble-hand-off leading to a pull up midrange over 7 ‘1″ Deandre Ayton. This tied the game 103-103.
In the next scoring possession, with under 15 seconds left, Ingram had the ball at the top with Anfernee Simons defending.
Ingram sized him up to get to his sweet midrange spot. He bumped, spun and faded over the outstretched hand of Simons.
It was tough defense but an even tougher bucket as Ingram would give the Pels the lead with the turnaround middy.
The next possession with the game clock winding down, Simons dribbled full-speed down the lane against the lanky Herb Jones.
He would get the shot off but the ball was quickly met by the insane vertical of Williamson.
The go-ahead bucket by Ingram and game-winning block by Williamson would proceed to a 105-103 victory for the Pels in Portland. Grant finished with a game-high 34 points and hit a career-high eight threes. Guard Scoot Henderson also pitched in 15 points on 7/9 shooting and six assists off the bench.
A recurring theme for the Pels, similar to the Bulls game was the turnover margin. They’ve dominated by forcing turnovers and capitalizing off of them. They now have a +16 turnover differential which has been a major factor so far.
The Pelicans will continue their road trip in Portland for another game (Oct. 27), and then head directly south to face Steph Curry and the Warriors in back-to-back games (Oct. 29-30).