After Big Comeback in OKC, Pelicans Come Back to The Blender to Host Pistons

Posted on by David Grubb

NEW ORLEANS – After coming back from a 22-point, first-half deficit to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, the New Orleans Pelicans are back home tonight to host the Detroit Pistons.

Once again, the Pelicans were led by their defense. Over the final three quarters New Orleans held the Thunder in check, as OKC shot 39% from the floor and scored 73 points.

Offensively, New Orleans got a balanced effort with four players reaching double figures. CJ McCollum posted his first double-double of the season with 29 points and 11 rebounds. McCollum was on fire during the second half, as he connected on 8-11 shots from the floor (4-6 3PA).

Zion Williamson picked up his first double-double as well, and was just two assists away from a triple-double, racking up 20 points, 10 boards, and eight dimes. Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and nine rebounds, and Jordan Hawkins put together another nice all-around effort with 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

New Orleans won the battle on the boards and kept its turnovers in check, giving the ball away only 10 times to the Thunder.

The Pelicans have won five in a row against the Pistons, and haven’t lost to Detroit at the Smoothie King Center since 2019.

Keys to Victory

  1. Play Inside-Out. New Orleans is at its best offensively when Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas are scoring inside. When they score, the defense shifts and there are more open looks created for the team’s shooters. The Pelicans scored 52 points in the paint against the Thunder, tying their season high and matching what they’ve allowed on average after four games. The Pelicans have to win around the basket against the Pistons while the rest of the offense continues to sort itself out.
  2. Make your free throws. The Pelicans were 17 of 29 (59 pct.) from the free throw line, including six misses in the fourth quarter, against OKC. For the season New Orleans ranks 11th in free throw attempts, but last in free throw percentage (61.3 pct.). If this trend continues, it will cost the Pelicans a game or two at some point.
  3. Continue to value the basketball. After committing 21 turnovers in the season opener, the Pelicans have decreased their giveaways in each following game, including just 10 versus the Thunder. Limiting turnovers means limiting fast break opportunities for opponents, something that had been a major problem in the past.
  4. Hold the line. It’s hard to defend the three-point line much better than the Pelicans have to open the season. New Orleans’ opponents have made 41-of-155 (26.4 pct.) attempts from beyond the arc. The Pistons come in to tonight’s game shooting better than 40 percent from deep.

Probable Starting Lineups

Detroit Pistons (vs NOP last season)New Orleans Pelicans (vs DET last season)
G – Cade Cunningham (N/A)G – CJ McCollum (13.5 pts, 6.5 ast)
G – Killian Hayes (17.0 pts, 9.0 ast)G – Jordan Hawkins (N/A)
F – Ausar Thompson (N/A)F – Herbert Jones (N/A)
F – Isaiah Stewart (10.0 pts, 4.0 reb)F – TBA
C – Jalen Duren (12.0 pts, 13.0 reb)C – Jonas Valanciunas (23.5 pts, 14.0 reb)

Injuries (Updated 1:30PM)

New Orleans Pelicans: Jose Alvarado (right ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (right knee contusion), Trey Murphy III (left knee partial meniscectomy), Zion Williamson (rest) are OUT; Brandon Ingram (right knee tendonitis) is questionable.

Detroit Pistons: Bojan Bogdanovic (calf), Isaiah Livers (ankle), Monte Morris (quad) are OUT; Jalen Duren (ankle) is questionable.

Who: Detroit Pistons (2-3) vs New Orleans Pelicans (3-1)

Series history: Pelicans lead all-time 28-17, Pelicans 2-0 in 2022-23

Where: Smoothie King Center

When: November 2, 7:00 PM CT

Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans

Where to listen: WRNO 99.5

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