The New Orleans Pelicans wrapped up Summer League play with another loss, falling 113-104 to the Indiana Pacers and cementing their place in the record books—for the wrong reason. The defeat marked the team’s 11th consecutive loss in Las Vegas Summer League action, setting a new NBA record for the longest such streak. Their last win in Vegas came in 2023, and this year’s 0-5 mark has only added to a growing sense of frustration around the franchise’s ability to develop talent.
Despite the disappointing results in the win column, there were some individual performances worth noting, starting with Jeremiah Fears, who has become a bright spot for the Pelicans this summer, particular in his last three games. The 18-year-old guard scored 22 points against the Pacers, his second straight game hitting that mark, and once again showed the combination of confidence, quickness, and shot creation that made him a standout among this year’s draft prospects.
Fears’ emergence is encouraging not just for his scoring, but also for his poise. He’s looked more mature than his age would suggest and at times has looked every bit the star he’s projected to be. He’s far from a finished product, but in a Summer League full of inconsistency and disappointment, his steady improvement was a highlight.
Joining him in making an impact was Antonio Reeves, whose scoring touch continued to shine. Reeves added 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting (4-6 3PA), finishing his run in Vegas with one of his most efficient games. The former Kentucky standout scored in double figures in four of his five games in Las Vegas, proving his potential as a bench scorer capable of creating shots off the dribble and moving without the ball.
Hunter Dickinson also turned another solid performance, posting 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in just 18 minutes. The former Michigan and Kansas big man was physical around the basket and finished well inside, providing a bit of interior presence. While he’s not going to crack the Pelicans’ rotation anytime soon, Dickinson’s effort showed that he can contribute when given opportunities and space to work.
But for all the encouraging individual performances, the overarching story was once again about failure to put together a complete team effort. The Pelicans allowed Indiana to shoot 48.8% from the field and gave up 113 points, by far their highest total allowed this summer. Turnovers (16) and second-chance points (22) once again plagued New Orleans, and defensive breakdowns were frequent.
Adding insult to injury, the day brought a second gut punch: rookie first-round pick Derik Queen underwent successful surgery for a torn ligament in his left wrist. Queen will be re-evaluated in roughly 3 months. It’s an unfortunate setback for a player the Pelicans are hoping will be a major part of their rotation.
Queen was seen as a key piece in New Orleans’ effort to refresh its frontcourt depth following the departure of Jonas Valančiūnas prior to last season. The Pelicans struggled on the glass and in the paint during Summer League play, and the hope is that Queen’s recovery won’t bleed into the regular season.
As the Pelicans head back to New Orleans, they do so with questions to answer. Fears and Reeves showed flashes, Dickinson provided toughness inside, but the team’s inability to compete across five games, combined with the Queen injury, leaves a sour taste heading into training camp.
The Summer League may not always translate to regular-season success or failure, but an 0-5 finish and a record-setting losing streak are hard to ignore for a franchise that keeps saying it wants to build from within. The pieces might be there, but they’re not fitting together just yet.
New Orleans’ biggest challenge has remained moving from potential to production. In Vegas, the Pelicans showed that they have some potential in their young players. Now, will any of them emerge to produce for a team committed to making a playoff run?
READ MORE
- Imperfect 10: Pelicans Extend Summer Skid to 10 Straight Games
- Turnovers Prove Too Costly For Pelicans in Loss to Blazers
- Pelicans’ Rookies Regress in Loss to Lakers in Vegas
- Pelicans Bet on Herb Jones, Sign Vet to 3-Year Extension
- Pelicans Swing Big in 2025 NBA Draft, but Gamble Brings High Risk
- Double Dip: Pelicans Have Shaky History With Multiple First-Rounders
- Pelicans Make Big Moves and Face Bigger Questions
- Pelicans Front Office Reshaped Rapidly Under Joe Dumars
- Joe Dumars Adds Former Pistons GM to Pelicans Front Office
- Joe Dumars and the Pelicans: A Sudden Shift That Raises More Questions Than Answers
- Pelicans Fire David Griffin: A New Era Begins in New Orleans
- Valiant Effort Not Enough As Pelicans Drop Season Finale
- Worst Season in Pelicans History to End Against NBA’s Best
- Pelicans Close Eastern Conference Slate Home Against Heat
- Eight Isn’t Enough as Pelicans Fall to Bucks, 136-111
- Pelicans Visit Milwaukee for Rematch with Playoff-Bound Bucks
- Pelicans’ Late Run Not Enough Against Nets
- Pelicans Visit Nets to Open Final Road Trip
- Short-Handed Showdown Ends in Pelicans Loss to Bucks
- Pelicans Limp Into Matchup With Lakers
- Pelicans Can’t Keep Up With Clippers in 114-98 Loss
- Pelicans Look to Spoil Clippers’ Playoff Push
- Pelicans Overcome Absences to Edge Hornets
- Shorthanded Pelicans Battle, But Fall to Warriors 111-95
Getting ejected for one’s second technical foul during the fourth quarter of a close game was not exactly a sign of poise by Fears. Based on his poor shooting and defense, it’s hard to see him in the Pelicans rotation at the start of the season. Queen’s injury, if not his penchant for turnovers, will likely keep him out as well. Both show promise but neither looks like a shot in the arm kind of player. The early returns from Dumars aggressive trade are justifying the broad criticism he received.