2023-10-14 22:04:00
Perhaps the biggest priority of NBA preseason for teams and players is to get out of games healthy. From that standpoint, Saturday’s first half was a major downer for New Orleans, which lost a pair of key contributors to injury. Neither Herb Jones (neck) nor Naji Marshall (right knee) returned to action following their ailments, though Jones was initially ruled questionable. With those Pelicans sidelined and the team’s entire starting lineup exiting in the third quarter, a group of reserves provided a lengthy stretch of encouraging play, making Saturday’s matchup considerably more competitive. That collection of rookies and unproven players at the NBA level authored a late-game rally following Atlanta went up by a big margin. June lottery pick Jordan Hawkins, two-way contract signee Kaiser Gates and 2022 second-round pick E.J. Liddell combined to sink seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone, as the Pelicans piled up 34 points and pulled within a couple possessions of the Hawks on the scoreboard.
Well, it initially looked over when Atlanta led 71-42 less than three minutes into the second half, but the Hawks had to fight off the Pelicans late following a 15-0 fourth-quarter run by the visitors. Atlanta rookie Seth Lundy swished a three with less than a minute remaining, giving the Hawks a nine-point edge and some needed breathing room.
It’s only preseason, but Atlanta’s defense devoted midseason-level attention to Zion Williamson, who faced a wall on many of his drives into the paint. He committed three turnovers, but was also the only New Orleans player in double-digit scoring through three quarters, with 16 points on 5/11 shooting from the field. None of the other starters had more than three buckets. …
Hawkins had a few shots rim in and out in the middle quarters, but got red-hot in the fourth, as his barrage of four made three-pointers in rapid fashion were part of the Pelicans’ run on the scoreboard. The UConn product totaled 17 points in his 23 minutes, going 5/11 from three-point range. Gates hit a pair of fourth-period triples, with Liddell adding one. …
Liddell joined Hawkins as a late-game bright spot. The Ohio State product was a perfect 4/4 from the floor in his 10-point outing (in 17 minutes of action). He also handed out three assists. His best stat? Probably a plus-13, joining Dereon Seabron and Trey Jemison with that number among a lineup that did some nice work during a 34-28 fourth quarter in favor of New Orleans.
PELICANS PODCAST PLAYER TO WATCH
Second-year guard Dyson Daniels delivered a stellar all-around performance with a little bit of everything, including defense. The native of Australia continued his positive preseason by registering nine points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals, going 4/7 from the field. His defensive awareness away from the ball led to him pilfering the Hawks, including coming from behind a couple times, a la teammate Jose Alvarado.
Jordan Hawkins with 17 Points vs. Atlanta Hawks | Preseason Game 3
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