New Orleans Pelicans continued their best stretch of the season Saturday night, defeating the Indiana Pacers 128-109 at Smoothie King Center. The victory marked New Orleans’ fourth straight win and lifted the club to 7-22.
Zion Williamson once again came off the bench and delivered a game-changing performance, matching his season high with 29 points. It was the third consecutive game Williamson played as a reserve while working his way back from a hip adductor injury.
Williamson set the tone early, scoring 18 points in the first half as the Pelicans built a 64-49 halftime lead. He finished 9-of-14 from the field, went 11-of-13 at the free-throw line, and added seven rebounds in 23 minutes.
New Orleans overwhelmed Indiana in the opening quarter, scoring a season-high 44 points on 61 percent shooting. Williamson scored 10 points in the first period as the Pelicans jumped out to a 44-27 advantage.
Indiana briefly responded in the second quarter, using New Orleans turnovers to score 14 of the first 16 points and cut the deficit to five. The Pelicans answered by closing the half on an 18-8 run to reestablish control.
The Pelicans’ depth played a major role throughout the night, with the bench producing a season-high 66 points. Saddiq Bey scored 18, while Trey Murphy III and Derik Queen each added 17 for a balanced attack.
Queen also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds, anchoring the interior as New Orleans finished with a 49-42 rebounding edge. Jordan Poole chipped in 16 points and six assists to keep the offense flowing.
Indiana struggled to find consistent offense despite solid individual efforts. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points, while Johnny Furphy added 18 and T.J. McConnell contributed 16 off the bench.
The Pacers shot just 19 percent from three-point range, going 8-of-42, which limited any sustained comeback attempts. Indiana has now dropped four straight games and fell to 6-22.
The loss also delayed a milestone for Rick Carlisle, who remains one win shy of 1,000 career victories. Indiana has not won since a Dec. 8 home victory over Sacramento.
New Orleans maintained its momentum in the second half, scoring 34 points in the third quarter to push the lead past 20. Williamson did not play in the fourth quarter as the Pelicans closed comfortably.
The Pacers travel to Boston on Monday night seeking to reset their offense. The Pelicans remain home Monday to host Dallas, looking to extend their season-best winning streak.
