Jan 7, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) and New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson (1) have a good time a three-point basket made by Murray with an help from Williamson throughout the first half in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Smoothie King Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Photographs Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray performed collectively on the identical workforce in a recreation for the primary time on Tuesday night time.
Each gamers have missed important time on account of accidents, however they gave a glimpse of what the New Orleans Pelicans envisioned after they traded for Murray from Atlanta within the offseason — though the duo’s first recreation collectively resulted in a 104-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Pelicans, who’ve the worst report within the Western Convention, could have an opportunity to construct on that efficiency after they host the Portland Path Blazers on Wednesday.
“That is a small pattern dimension of what this workforce is able to,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced stated. “Now we have to attempt to string collectively extra video games like that and put collectively some wins.”
Williamson returned from a 27-game absence on account of a strained hamstring to complete with 22 factors, six rebounds, 4 assists and three steals in 27-plus minutes. It was simply his seventh recreation of the season.
“I really feel like my legs are already beneath me,” Williamson stated. “Now it is simply getting right into a recreation rhythm. I haven’t got time to take three to 5 video games to get that. I’ve bought to determine it out as shortly as attainable.”
Murray had a season-high 29 factors, six assists and 6 steals.
“I feel I’ve proved that is what I do,” Murray stated of breaking down defenses, “so I feel it is rubbing off on (Williamson). He is being energetic, and that is nice to see.”
The Blazers, in the meantime, are coming off a 118-115 loss at Detroit on Monday night time. They outscored Detroit 28-23 within the first quarter and led by as many as 22 factors within the second earlier than letting the margin and the sport slip away.
“We’re simply form of attempting to determine one another out, particularly firstly of the sport,” stated guard Anfernee Simons, who scored a season-high 36 factors.
“I may not be ultra-aggressive, however I am nonetheless attempting to make each single proper play and make performs to get someone else going. I belief myself to get going ultimately.”
Simons undoubtedly bought going, scoring 17 factors by making 7 of 8 photographs from the ground within the closing interval.
“I attempt to take my time throughout the recreation,” Simons stated. “And the third and fourth quarters are once I begin to set up myself. I am attempting to form of impose my will on the sport simply by studying the entire recreation all through the sport. I at all times say the fourth quarter is my time to get going.”
Simons leads Portland in scoring with a mean of 18.6 factors per recreation and is tied with Scoot Henderson for the lead in assists (5.1).
The season is not midway over, however New Orleans and Portland already are wrapping up their season collection, having performed 3 times within the first two weeks of the season.
They cut up a two-game set in Portland throughout the first week because the Pelicans received 105-103 on Oct. 25 and the Blazers captured a 125-103 victory two days later. Portland additionally beat host New Orleans 118-100 on Nov. 4.
–Discipline Degree Media
