New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dunks the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of the basketball game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
The New Orleans Pelicans won their previous game by charging back from a 25-point, third-quarter deficit to prevail in overtime.
They made things easier Saturday night by never trailing, racing to a 17-point lead after one quarter and defeating the Indiana Pacers 128-109 in the Smoothie King Center for their fourth consecutive victory.
Zion Williamson, who didn’t play during most of the comeback against Houston on Thursday, came off the bench to tie his season-high with 29 points for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey scored 18; Derik Queen had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season; Trey Murphy scored 17; and Jordan Poole chipped in 16. Starting guard Herb Jones suffered a head injury in the first quarter, played the last half of the second quarter but did not leave the locker room after halftime.
The Pelicans (7-22) will play the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. Monday in the Smoothie King Center.
Pascal Siakam scored 22 points, Johnny Furphy had 18, and T.J. McConnell recorded 16 to lead the Pacers (6-22).
Indiana began the third quarter with an 11-5 run that pulled it within 69-60. Williamson entered the game less than four minutes into the period and quickly scored seven straight New Orleans points to push the lead to 16.
The Pelicans extended the lead to as many as 21 points before holding a 98-79 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Pacers trimmed the lead to nine early in the fourth quarter, but Bey made a layup and followed with a three-point play for a 107-93 lead. New Orleans expanded the lead to as many as 25 points.
The Pelicans had their highest-scoring first quarter of the season, which led to their largest lead at the end of a first quarter. They shot 60.7% (17 of 28) from the floor and 44.4% (4 of 9) on 3-pointers to lead by as many as 19 points on their way to a 44-27 lead entering the second quarter.
Murphy led the way with 10 points, Williamson added 11, and six of their teammates had at least three points.
Indiana scored the first nine points of the second quarter to start a 14-2 run. New Orleans didn’t make a field goal until Queen had a layup with 6:46 left in the period. Queen had two more baskets and Williamson added eight points during an 18-8 run that gave the Pelicans a 64-49 halftime lead.