New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans bring a bold mix of Southern flair and next-generation basketball to the NBA. Based in the vibrant city of New Orleans, the Pelicans play their home games at the Smoothie King Center, where passionate fans fuel the team’s intensity every night. Since rebranding in 2013, the franchise has embraced a fresh identity centered around resilience, athleticism, and a deep connection to its community. With young stars leading the charge and a culture built on hard work and heart, the Pelicans are determined to rise in the Western Conference and make their mark on the league.
Mavericks Fall 101–99 to Pelicans The Dallas Mavericks came up short against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night, 101–99, as Cooper Flagg’s potential game-winner at the buzzer missed its mark. It was a tough night all around for Dallas (2–6), whose struggles started early and lingered throughout. The Mavericks opened the game shooting just 27 percent in the first quarter and managed only two makes inside the paint through the first 18 minutes. Turnovers proved costly late, with Dallas giving the ball away seven times in the fourth quarter alone as both teams traded the lead multiple times down the stretch. Those miscues allowed the Pelicans (2–6) — playing without Zion Williamson and on the second night of a back-to-back — to pull out the win. Saddiq Bey paced New Orleans with 22 points and nine rebounds, setting the tone early in what became a scrappy contest. For Dallas, it was another frustrating performance in a stretch full of growing pains. Below is a closer look at how each Maverick performed in a game that got away in more ways than one.
Hornets Let Late Lead Slip in Loss to Pelicans The first half was a roller coaster for Charlotte. The Hornets came out strong behind Kon Knueppel’s early scoring and hot perimeter shooting, quickly building a comfortable lead that hinted at another routine win over a struggling opponent. But once the rotations shifted, everything changed. The Pelicans found their rhythm from beyond the arc while the Hornets’ offense sputtered. Turnovers piled up, transition defense broke down, and an 18-point swing erased Charlotte’s advantage by the middle of the second quarter. The Hornets regrouped slightly before halftime but still trailed heading into the break. Charlotte carried some of that late-half energy into the third, retaking the lead and holding it for much of the second half. But the final minutes told a different story. The offense completely stalled, producing as many turnovers as made shots in the fourth quarter. The Hornets went scoreless after the 3:41 mark, leaving the door wide open. Jose Alvarado buried a step-back three to put New Orleans on top, and Trey Murphy III iced the game at the line. A hurried three-point attempt from Miles Bridges came up short, sealing another frustrating late-game collapse for Charlotte.