Key Takeaways

• New Orleans trailed much of the game but nearly completed the comeback, with the margin narrowing until the final play where Murray's mid-range attempt fell short at the buzzer.
• Saddiq Bey came off the bench to deliver 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, providing baseline postups, efficient pull-ups, and off-the-catch threes that stabilized the Pelicans' offense in transition-heavy play.
• Zion Williamson totaled 23 points, seven rebounds, and three steals on 8-of-13 shooting, yet the offense lacked floor spacing, allowing Utah to pack the paint and limit his full impact.
• The columnist criticizes the roster construction under Joe Dumars, arguing that the lack of complementary shooters around Zion makes it easier for opponents to collapse the defense on him.
• Dejounte Murray's late drive-and-kick sequence on the final possession underscored the issue: without shooters around Zion, the defense could collapse and re-stamp control as the ball swung to the perimeter.
• Yves Missi suffered a leg injury midway through the second quarter, creating a troubling injury setback for a Pelicans lineup already short on reliable five-man stability.
• With Missi out, the Pelicans must lean on Derik Queen, Karlo Matković, and potentially Julian Reese, increasing uncertainty about the frontcourt depth and long-term fit.