In a matchup devoid of star power, the New Orleans Pelicans secured a 112-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night at the Smoothie King Center. With both teams dealing with a slew of injuries, it was the Pelicans’ depth and contributions from unexpected sources that led them to victory.
Role Players Step Up
With Zion Williamson missing his third straight game due to a back injury, and CJ McCollum also sidelined, the Pelicans turned to their younger players and reserves. Karlo Matkovic tied his career high with 19 points and added eight rebounds, while Antonio Reeves came off the bench to contribute 17 points, including five three-pointers. Reeves continued his hot shooting stretch, making 12 consecutive field goals across multiple games before finally missing in the second half.
Rookie Yves Missi was also a force in the paint, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Veteran Kelly Olynyk provided a well-rounded performance with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, and recently signed guard Elfrid Payton dished out 14 assists in just 25 minutes of play.
Key Moments
The Pelicans entered halftime with a nine-point lead, but the 76ers came out strong in the third quarter, hitting six of their first eight three-pointers to briefly take a 67-65 lead. However, New Orleans responded with a dominant 16-2 run to close the quarter, re-establishing control with a 90-75 lead heading into the fourth. Reeves, Matkovic, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl all knocked down key three-pointers during that stretch.
Philadelphia attempted a rally in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 103-89, but New Orleans remained in control, maintaining a comfortable margin until the final buzzer.
The Pelicans shot just 4-of-17 from three-point range in the first half but found their rhythm in the third quarter, knocking down 8-of-11 attempts from deep. New Orleans finished the game with 36 assists, showcasing strong ball movement. Payton accounted for 14 of those.
Looking Ahead
The Pelicans, who improved to 20-53 on the season, will look to build on this win when they host the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
Monday night’s contest highlighted the resilience of young players stepping into expanded roles and making the most of their opportunities.
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