New Orleans, LA — A dominant closing stretch flipped the script for New Orleans on Saturday night, as the Pelicans stormed past Philadelphia 126–111 behind a blistering offensive finish.
Jordan Poole paced the charge with 23 points, drilling five shots from beyond the arc. Zion Williamson added 21 points, while Saddiq Bey contributed 20 in a balanced scoring effort. Veteran center DeAndre Jordan made a rare appearance count, pulling down 15 rebounds and swatting four shots in 32 impactful minutes after having scarcely played this season.
Philadelphia appeared in control for much of the night. The 76ers led by as many as 11 and maintained the advantage from late in the first quarter until the closing moments of the third.
The momentum shifted when New Orleans began tightening up defensively and finding rhythm offensively. Free throws from Jeremiah Fears nudged the Pelicans ahead 91–89, sparking a decisive run. Karlo Matkovic played a pivotal role during the surge, scoring nine points in a key stretch that included a three-pointer from the corner and a four-point play opportunity. By the end of the third quarter, New Orleans had turned the tide and built a 97–91 edge.
The Pelicans then put the game out of reach with a 23–8 burst to open the fourth. Poole’s fifth three-pointer extended the lead to 120–99 with just over five minutes remaining, silencing any hopes of a Philadelphia comeback.
Herb Jones added 14 points and Bryce McGowens chipped in 13 as New Orleans connected on 17 three-pointers and shot 50% from deep. Matkovic finished with 12 points to round out the double-digit scorers.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 27 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25. VJ Edgecombe scored 14. Philadelphia struggled mightily after halftime, shooting just over 31% in the second half and missing 21 of 24 attempts from long range. The loss marked the Sixers’ fourth straight, though they remain sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Next up, Philadelphia visits Minnesota on Sunday night, while New Orleans returns home to host Golden State on Tuesday.
