Brandon Ingram delivered an impressive 33-point performance, guiding the New Orleans Pelicans to a 123-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. The Pelicans played without Zion Williamson, who was ruled out shortly before the game due to an illness.
Ingram sealed the game with a turnaround baseline jumper with 1:46 remaining, extending New Orleans’ lead to 10 points. In the absence of their All-Star forward, the Pelicans relied heavily on Ingram’s offensive production, along with key contributions from CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray.
Murray, in his Pelicans debut, showcased his versatility by scoring 14 points, dishing out 10 assists, and grabbing eight rebounds before leaving the game in the fourth quarter due to a hand injury. McCollum added 23 points, including crucial baskets in the second half, helping the Pelicans pull away after a close first half.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 27 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and 11 rebounds. Despite strong individual performances, Chicago struggled to keep up with New Orleans down the stretch, trailing by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Pelicans’ rookie center Yves Missi, drafted 21st overall in June, impressed with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in 23 minutes. Initially viewed as too raw to play significant minutes, Missi stepped up in Williamson’s absence and received a standing ovation when he exited the game late in the fourth quarter.
New Orleans led for most of the second half after battling the Bulls in a competitive first half. Pelicans’ defense tightened, forcing Chicago into difficult shots while converting on the offensive end. LaVine’s 27 points came on 9-of-23 shooting, while Vucevic’s 21 points included key baskets in the first half, but their efforts weren’t enough to overcome New Orleans’ balanced attack.
Josh Giddey and Jalen Smith provided additional scoring for the Bulls, contributing 14 and 15 points, respectively, while the Bulls’ bench struggled to make an impact.
For New Orleans, Ingram’s leadership and Murray’s all-around play were crucial in filling the void left by Williamson’s absence. Ingram shot 12-of-22 from the field and was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. McCollum also found success from deep, knocking down 4-of-8 from long range.
