Pistons @ Pelicans Takeaways
Chrissy Smith • November 3, 2023
Team Stats
(Pistons/Pelicans)
Final Score: 116-125
Rebounds: 48-36
Assist: 26-27
Blocks: 5-7
Steals: 4-5
Stat Leaders
(Pistons/Pelicans)
Scoring Leaders: Cade Cunningham, 22; CJ McCollum, 33
Rebound Leaders: Isaiah Stewart/Marvin Bagley III, 8; Jonas Valanciunan, 13
Assist Leaders: Cade Cunningham, 11; Dyson Daniels, 6
My Player of the Game: CJ "32 year old" McCollum
Takeaways
- CJ McCollum is coming for the veteran player of the year
- Without BI, Zion, and Murphy, the Pels easily defeated a team they should beat; that's a good sign
- The Pelicans have started the season 4-1
- Matt Ryan is the shooter we didn't know we wanted
- So far, no one has been a better offensive player than Herb Jones has been a great defensive player
- Watching Zion and BI on the bench, while 32-year-old cooks for the second in a back-to-back game is wild
- Jordan Hawkins is learning the game and improving very quickly
- JV looked solid in the win
- Having Dyson Daniels lead the team in assists says a lot about the depth of this team
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After a weather-delayed kickoff, loyal NOLA Gold fans were treated to a rollercoaster of a match that ended with a well-earned 44-36 victory over the Seattle Seawolves at the Shrine. This win moved NOLA Gold into 3rd place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference standings. Coach Danny Lee said of the team's response to the delay, “We just had to control the controllables. Once we told the boys the definitive time for kickoff, we had a plan ready to go. In terms of game plan, we had to be a little bit more direct, and we had to kick and adapt quickly.” NOLA Gold set the tone early, taking an initial 3-0 lead thanks to a steady penalty kick from Dorian Jones. Though Seattle answered quickly with a try to make it 7-3, the Gold launched into a dominant scoring stretch. Isaac Te Tamaki powered across the try line to ignite the offense, followed by back-to-back tries from the relentless Jonah Mau’u. Jones continued to add points from the tee, stretching the Gold’s lead to 27-7. Just before halftime, the Seawolves found a breakthrough and scored at the buzzer, narrowing the margin to 27-14. However, NOLA emerged from the locker room with purpose. Xavier Mignot wasted no time reestablishing momentum with a try that pushed the lead to 34-14. Seattle fought back with intensity, capitalizing on back-to-back tries to bring the score to 34-24. But NOLA responded with composure, as Jones added another penalty to keep the visitors at bay, 37-24. The closing stages of the match saw both teams exchanging blows. Seattle’s try was met by a decisive moment from Joe Taufete’e, who muscled through defenders for a critical score. Luke Campbell’s conversion extended the lead to 44-29. Though Seattle scored one final try at the buzzer, it wasn’t enough. With a final score of 44-36, NOLA Gold walked away with a crucial five-point win in front of a roaring home crowd and strengthens their postseason hopes with a firm grip on 3rd place in the East. Their next match will be on the road against the San Diego Legion on May 4th at 4:00 PM CT. For tickets and more details, please visit www.nolagoldrugby.com

The 10th annual Covington Antiques & Uniques Festival will be held this Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, at the Covington Trailhead Museum. This two-day, juried festival features over 60 vendors offering an eclectic mix of antique furnishings, period collectibles, architectural salvage, and vintage-inspired fine crafts, as well as a live auction, car show, good food, music, and more. The Covington Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the city’s culture, character and community. Founded in 2015, the festival is coordinated with the support of the City’s Department of Cultural Arts and Events. As the festival grows and evolves each year, their goal remains the same- to offer a first-class juried event that reflects the unique charm and history of the city of Covington. The festival is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. For more details, please visit https://www.covingtonheritagefoundation.com/