The New Orleans Pelicans faced another tough night on Wednesday, falling 128-100 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a game highlighting the team’s ongoing struggles with injuries and depth. Missing their top six scorers, the Pelicans got some good moments from their rookies but couldn’t keep pace with the red-hot Cavaliers.
Rookies Shine Amid Adversity
With their rotation decimated, the Pelicans leaned heavily on their young talent, and rookie Antonio Reeves delivered a breakout performance. The former Kentucky guard poured in a career-high 34 points, shooting 14-of-25 from the field and adding five rebounds and three assists. Reeves, who led all Pelicans in scoring and minutes played, posted the fourth-highest scoring total by a rookie in franchise history, finishing only three points behind Marcus Thornton’s record of 37 set back in 2010 and scored the most by a Pelicans rookie since Zion Williamson scored 35 against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
Coincidentally, Thornton’s 37-point night was also against the Cavaliers.
Reeves became the seventh rookie in franchise history to score at least 30 points in a game and is the fourth rookie this season to reach that mark, joining Dalton Knecht (37 points), Jared McCain (34 points), and Zaccharie Risacher (33 points).
“It means a lot,” Reeves said of his performance. “It means, really, everything. (The) coaches have faith in me; players have faith in me. I just went out there and played and gave it all I’ve got, 100%. I just went out there and competed.”
Fellow rookie Yves Missi continued to impress, finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds. Missi’s length and athleticism have been a consistent bright spot, and he appears poised to become a significant contributor in the frontcourt once the Pelicans’ core returns.
Since joining the starting lineup on Nov. 1, Missi has averaged 7.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game on 56.4% shooting. He’s had four games with double-figure rebounds and two double-doubles during that 11-game span.
“Both Antonio and Yves have stepped up in a big way for us,” said head coach Willie Green. “Their growth is one of the positives we can take from this stretch.”
The Challenge of Staying Competitive
The Pelicans’ injury list reads like a who’s who of their roster, with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones all sidelined. The team also played without sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins and relied heavily on two-way players and emergency signings. Every player on the roster Wednesday night was either on a rookie, two-way, or minimum contract.
One such signing, veteran point guard Elfrid Payton, returned to the NBA after more than a year away. Payton started for the Pelicans and contributed 11 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in his first game back. However, the lack of continuity and firepower proved insurmountable against a Cavaliers team firing on all cylinders.
The Pelicans struggled offensively, shooting just 8-of-31 from beyond the arc and missing eight free throws. Defensively, they had no answer for Cleveland guard Ty Jerome, who torched New Orleans for a career-high 29 points, including seven three-pointers in the first half.
A Familiar Story
Injuries have been a recurring theme for the Pelicans, who have yet to find consistent health and rhythm this season. The loss to Cleveland marked their third straight defeat and their ninth in the last ten games, dropping them to 4-12 on the year.
Only the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards have been as bad as the Pelicans record-wise over the last 10 games. The Pelicans’ -16.3 net rating in those games is the worst in the NBA.
Despite the mounting losses, head coach Willie Green remains optimistic about the team’s potential once key players return. “We’re asking a lot from this group right now,” Green said. “But the effort is there, and when we get our full team back, I believe we’ll see what we’re truly capable of.”
What’s Next?
The Pelicans’ schedule doesn’t get any easier, as they prepare to face the surging Golden State Warriors on Friday. While the team awaits the return of its stars, continued growth from players like Reeves and Missi will be essential.
For a team consistently defined by adversity, the Pelicans’ ability to stay competitive will continue to be tested until their roster is made whole. Until then, New Orleans can only find solace in the development of some of its young players and keep battling through one of the toughest stretches in recent memory.
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