Pelicans Season Comes to an End

Chrissy Smith • April 13, 2023

This is a subtitle for your new post

The New Orleans Pelicans ripped the final band aid off what has been a roller-coaster season by losing to the No. 10 Oklahoma City Thunder in the first play-in game, 123-118, on Wednesday at home.


The season now comes to an end, and while winning 42 games and finishing with a winning record might feel like a victorious year for the Nola team, there is not much to celebrate.


Prior to the game, Zion Williamson was seen dunking in pre-game warmups even though he would not be playing. Zion was not sitting due to an injury, but due to personal reasons.


The Pelicans started off flat in front of the sold-out crowd, but New Orleans led at halftime. However, the Thunder dominated in the third quarter, outscoring the Pelicans 39-24. The Pels fought back, but it was too little too late.


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with 32 points, while Josh Giddey had 31 points and 10 assists, and Lu Dort added 27 points and five rebounds.


Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and Herb Jones also added 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. He’s really transformed throughout this season; one of the bright spots this year.


McCollum scored 14 points in 41 minutes. It was announced after the game that he has been playing for a torn labrum in this shoulder, and expects to have thumb surgery in the coming weeks.


Williamson, Ingram, and McCollum played a total of 10 games together this season. If everyone can get healthy for just one season, magic could possibly happen, especially when you add in players like Jones and Trey Murphy who both grew leaps and bounds this year.


Only time will tell.


Follow me on Twitter @SportsChrissy


A quick share helps us a lot!

Pelicans @ Nuggets Takeaways

By Chrissy Smith • October 30, 2025
Team Stats (Pelicans at Nuggets) Final Score: 88-122 Rebounds: 36-57 Assists: 17-40 Steals: 9-5 Blocks: 3-5 Turnovers: 12-14 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 21; Nikola Jokić, 21 Rebound Leaders: Trey Murphy III, 7; Nikola Jokić, 12 Assist Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 6; Nikola Jokić, 10 My Player of the Game: Jeremiah Fears Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The starters for this game were Fears, Murphy III, Jones, Zion, and Deandre Jordan. So that was different, and it didn't work at all. * With most of the third quarter over, Zion had five total points in the game. He finished with 11. * The Nuggets went on a 32-4 run in the third quarter. The Pelicans came out very slow to start off the third. * New Orleans went 7-of-33 from the three-point line. * Nikola Jokić had a triple-double. The Pelicans had no answer for him all night. * Do the Pelicans know that the season has started because the majority of the guys out there look like they still think they're playing Summer League. * The problem with this team isn't the talent because they have that. So what's the problem? Coaching, effort, etc.? This has to be fixed ASAP. Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.

Celtics @ Pelicans Takeaways

By Chrissy Smith • October 28, 2025
Team Stats (Celtics at Pelicans) Final Score: 122-90 Rebounds: 54-35 Assists: 25-17 Steals: 5-7 Blocks: 7-0 Turnovers: 11-13 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Anfernee Simons, 25; Jordan Poole, 22 Rebound Leaders: Neemias Queta, 11; Yves Miss, 7 Assist Leaders: Payton Prichard, 8; Trey Murphy, III, 5 My Player of the Game: Jordan Poole Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The first two losses of the season were tough but at least the team looked good. In this game, no one looked fired up to compete except Jordan Poole and Jose Alvarado. * Zion did not play because he's been spending all offseason getting in shape just so he could rest after two games. Makes no sense to me. * Trey Murphy and Herb Jones need to find their spark and stride. These guys have been putting in a ton of work in the offseason but it isn't showing right now. * Willie Green has got to be on a short leash because this 0-3 start feels like the team is just picking up where they left off except this time they're healthy and have all the momentum in the world. * The next three games for the Pelicans will be on the road against Denver, Clippers, and Thunder . Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.
Show More