New Orleans was competitive in every game of its three-game homestand, facing some quality competition and opponents off to hot starts in 2021-22, but the frustrating result was the same each night. The Pelicans dropped a third straight single-digit margin game Saturday, this time to New York, after losing to Atlanta and Sacramento earlier in the week by three and four points, respectively.
Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram were supposed to be New Orleans’ starting forwards this season, but that injured duo was replaced by Josh Hart and rookie Herbert Jones. The shorthanded Pelicans again played competitively against a quality opponent, but couldn’t overcome the absence of a key offensive weapon (or two).