Four days after rapper NBA YoungBoy came to the Smoothie King Center and did his thing, NBA Long Boy (San Antonio Spurs’ center Victor Wembanyama) came and did the same. The New Orleans Pelicans lost 120-116 in overtime to Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs Friday night.
Here are three things we learned as the Pelicans fell to 0-2 on this young season.
Zion holds his own
Wembanyama was the talk of the NBA after his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks when he scored 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and delivered several highlights that went viral on social media. He put on a show once again Friday, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks. But he wasn’t the only former No. 1 overall pick to shine. Zion Williamson was just as impressive, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Williamson played 36 minutes and 59 seconds, which is more than he played any game last season. All the work Williamson put in to improve his body this offseason seems to be paying off.
Trusting the rookies
You knew rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen would contribute this season. But nobody expected the two duo to be playing down the stretch in their second NBA game. But there they were on the court - along with Williamson, Trey Murphy and Jordan Poole- in the final minutes of regulation and most of the overtime period. Queen played 35 minutes and finished with 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Fears played 29 minutes and scored 13 points to go with four rebounds, two steals and an assist. “I saw a lot of poise from both guys at the end of the game, throughout the whole game really,” said Pelicans’ coach Willie Green. “You can tell they want it.”
Still falling short
The Pels trailed 109-107 when Wembanyama fouled out with 4:17 remaining in overtime. These are the kind of games the Pelicans should be able to win. They weren’t.
“I thought we got a few good looks that we missed,” Green said. “They made a couple more plays than us. That’s really what it comes down to.”
As a result of their inability to finish, the Pelicans have now lost nine games in a row dating back to last season.
Up next: Monday vs. Boston Celtics (Smoothie King Center)