The New Orleans Pelicans scored plenty on Sunday, but unfortunately, so did the Pistons, as the home team held off a late charge to hand the Pels a 136-130 loss at Little Caesars Arena.
This matchup was a rematch of last week’s forgettable blowout in New Orleans, where the Pistons ran away with a 46-point win. But this time, the shorthanded Pelicans were far more competitive. Leading the charge was CJ McCollum, who poured in a game-high 40 points, and Jordan Hawkins, who stayed hot all night and tied his season high with 25.
McCollum Catches Fire
Detroit looked poised to control the game early, jumping out to a nine-point halftime lead, largely thanks to Jalen Duren’s work inside (he ended with 22 points and 12 rebounds). But McCollum found his rhythm in the second half. The veteran guard scored 14 points in the third quarter alone, fueling a surge that gave the Pelicans a 74-73 lead midway through the period—their first advantage since the opening minutes.
McCollum didn’t slow down, dropping 28 of his 40 points after halftime on 16-of-28 shooting, keeping the Pels within striking distance down the stretch. It was McCollum’s fourth game this season with at least 40 points. It was also the first time the Pelicans lost a game when CJ scored 40 or more.
Hawkins Lights It Up
Jordan Hawkins was equally key in keeping the Pelicans afloat. The UConn product knocked down a season-high six triples, going 6-of-11 from deep and finishing with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting. His outside shooting, particularly in the first three quarters, helped stretch Detroit’s defense and gave New Orleans a consistent offensive option alongside McCollum.
Over his last five games, Hawkins is averaging 10.8 points on 34.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Both numbers are slightly above his season averages of 10.6 and 33.1.
Detroit’s Young Guns Step Up
But while McCollum and Hawkins did their part, Detroit’s young core answered every challenge. Missing stars Cade Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr., the Pistons leaned heavily on rookie Ron Holland II and guard Marcus Sasser.
Holland was at his best in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his career-high-tying 26 points in the final frame. Whether it was acrobatic finishes at the rim or timely three-pointers, Holland seemed to have an answer every time New Orleans got close. He also added six assists, five rebounds, and two steals in an all-around performance that left a strong impression.
Sasser chipped in with 20 points off the bench, including a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth that helped Detroit regain control.
Historic Night for Pelicans Playmaking
One bright spot for New Orleans beyond the scoring outbursts was the ball movement. For the first time in franchise history, the Pelicans had four players finish with at least seven assists—McCollum (7), Kelly Olynyk (8), Jose Alvarado (8), and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (8). The Pelicans finished with 35 assists, falling to 7-9 this season when they dish out 30 or more dimes.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to offset Detroit’s late execution. Both teams shot lights out in the fourth quarter—each hitting 13 of their 20 shots—but the Pistons outscored the Pels 43-39 in the period to seal the win.
Looking Ahead
The loss drops New Orleans to 19-53 as they head back home for the second night of a back-to-back. They’ll face the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, with injuries expected to play a major role once again. Zion’s availability remains uncertain, while Philadelphia is also missing key players, including Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George.
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