Suns @ Pelicans Takeaways
Chrissy Smith • December 27, 2025
Team Stats
(Suns @ Pelicans)
Final Score: 115-108
Rebounds: 52-38
Assists: 26-22
Blocks: 4-2
Steals: 9-10
Turnovers: 17-12
Stat Leaders
(Suns/Pelicans)
Scoring Leaders: Devin Booker, 30; Zion Williamson, 20
Rebound Leaders: Mark Williams, 13; Zion Williamson, 8
Assist Leaders: Collin Gillepsie, 9; Zion Williamson/Jordan Poole, 6
My Player of the Game: Zion Williamson
Takeaways
- The Pelicans missed 17 free throws on the night, which was the nail in the coffin in a game they could have won.
- The Pelicans were up 100-97 after Zion Williamson hit a free throw with 4:58 left in the game, but the Suns closed out New Orleans by outscoring the Pelicans 18-8 the rest of the game.
- The Pelicans missed seven free throws in the third quarter, but still managed to be down only one point, 81-80, heading into the fourth quarter.
- Jordan Poole scored 19 points in the game but had some critical turnovers, and missed the most free throws on the night.
- The Pelicans will take on the Suns again tonight at 6 pm at the Smoothie King Center.
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Louisiana will be without running back Anthony Reagan Jr. for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. The injury took place following his lone carry early in the second quarter last Saturday against South Alabama, which went for 26 yards. The running back was forced to the sideline by a Jaguars defender and appears the hit was to the knee. Following the hit, Reagan Jr. was not able to get up on his own and needed assistance. Not much later in the game, he was carted off the field and was ruled out for the game. Then on Monday, head coach Michael Desormeaux told the media that the running back would be out for the year. Reagan Jr. is now the second running back for the Cajuns to suffer a season-ending injury this season, following Darrell Smith who also suffered a knee injury against Arkansas State in early October. It’s a big blow to a Cajuns roster that is now down to just three healthy running backs in JJ Garner, Steven Blanco, and Ke’Rynn Smith. JJ Garner and Steven Blanco have both played huge roles in the ground game for the Cajuns. While quarterback Lunch Winfield currently leads the team in rushing yards with 567, JJ Garner has 441 and averages a whopping 7.2 yards per carry. Steven Blanco has 298 yards on the season, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Both backs have combined for 10 rushing touchdowns. Ke’Rynn Smith, a true freshman out of Holy Cross in Metairie, will rise to the third spot on the roster to replace the injured Reagan Jr. He has not had much on-field opportunities this season, but the expectation is that he will have a role in the Cajuns backfield starting on Thursday against UL Monroe. “We got to prepare him to play every snap,” Coach Desormeaux said about Ke’Rynn Smith and getting him involved. “The kid’s really talented though.” Desormeaux also mentioned that ever since Darrell Smith’s injury in early October, the team began involving Ke’Rynn Smith mentally in meetings and in getting “good on good” reps. Now, the team looks to expand his rotation in practice. Ke’Rynn Smith came out of Holy Cross as a three-star prospect and rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior for the Tigers. He decided to stay in-state and play for UL over offers from schools like Houston, Arkansas, Indiana, and Missouri. Louisiana is set to face their rivals in the UL Monroe Warhawks on Thursday night in the national spotlight on ESPN2. The game is set for an 8pm kickoff. A preview of that game will be up on Wednesday. Abdul Abusada of Cajun Sports Talk
