Playing their second and final game of the NBA x NBL Melbourne Series, New Orleans Pelicans shot with impressive accuracy from both inside and outside the paint and played the full 48 minutes with great intensity as their hosts wilted and faded beyond the usual 40 minutes they’re used to playing in Australia’s NBL.
Zion Williamson was a walk-on starter on this occasion and his presence appeared to have lifted all of those around him from the outset as the Pelicans avoided a repeat of an error-riddled start to Friday night’s game.
There was a high frequency of three-point attempts from both teams and that was where the Pelicans really shone, going 7 from 14 in the first quarter from beyond the arc compared to South East Melbourne Phoenix’s 2 from 12, and the visitors were playing with what NBA legend Kevin Garnett described as “the energy of a regular season game” during a brief broadcast stint.
The Pelicans even hit three consecutive threes at one point in the first quarter to blow the margin out to 18 when a frustrated Josh King called his second timeout.
South East Melbourne came out with a lot more aggression in the second quarter after sitting back nervously in the first and allowing their opponents to rack up the points with great accuracy and they were struggling in particular with the final two minutes of the 12-minute terms, including in the second when they conceded 14 points and scoring just five in return – two from free throws on the buzzer.
The Phoenix continued to attack with intensity after half-time and racked up 31 field goal attempts in the third quarter but were often rushed into their shooting and recorded a field goal percentage of just 29% in the third quarter, failing to rein in a deficit that was 14 points at the first change, 22 at the second and 24 at the last.
The only major concern perhaps for Pelicans coach Willie Green was seeing the lively fan favourite Jose Alvarado go down halfway through the third quarter with a potential ankle concern, needing assistance to walk off the court and into the changerooms.
With a clear fitness and depth edge and their host team short-handed, the Pelicans walked into a 35-point margin with a commanding last quarter performance to head home declaring their tour a success.
Saddiq Bey was close to unstoppable for the Pelicans, posting 21 points and a +/- stat of +27 after failing to score against Melbourne United in Friday night’s tense victory, whilst Jeremiah Fears improved significantly on his shooting stats of 3 from 15 against United.
