Pelicans End 11-Game Losing Streak Behind CJ McCollum's 50-Point Performance
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards
After a thrilling 132-120 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday, the New Orleans Pelicans will aim for back-to-back victories when they meet the Wizards again on Sunday at the Capital One Arena in Washington. With a scheduled tip-off at 6:00 p.m. EST, this game presents both teams with an opportunity to gain some ground in their rebuilding seasons. While the Pelicans ended an 11-game losing streak with that win, the Wizards will look for payback and a chance to build momentum in the second half of the season.
Pelicans Finally Break Losing Streak: CJ McCollum Leads the Way
The New Orleans Pelicans (6-29) ended their nightmare run with a long-awaited win over the Wizards on Friday. Trailing by eight points after the first quarter and six at halftime, New Orleans mounted a strong comeback, led by a career-high performance from CJ McCollum, who dropped 50 points, including an impressive 10 three-pointers. His dominant performance helped lift the Pelicans to only their second win in 22 games.
In addition to McCollum, Trey Murphy chipped in with 17 points, while rookie Yves Missi posted a solid double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. This victory was a much-needed morale booster for the Pelicans, but they still remain at the bottom of the NBA standings, tied with the Wizards for the fewest wins in the league.
However, despite the win, the Pelicans’ overall statistics continue to highlight their struggles this season. They rank 28th in scoring and 29th in field goal shooting. Their offensive efficiency is the second-worst in the league, with significant struggles in three-point shooting (26th in the NBA) and turnovers (24th in turnovers per game). Defensively, New Orleans fares no better, ranking 25th in scoring defense and 29th in field goal defense. The Pelicans will need more than McCollum’s heroics to avoid further struggles against a Wizards team that will likely come out looking for revenge.
Wizards Look to Bounce Back After Friday’s Loss
The Washington Wizards (6-26) return home after a disappointing loss to the Pelicans on Friday. Despite shooting over 50% from the field and leading at halftime, Washington ultimately collapsed due to an alarming 21 turnovers, which the Pelicans capitalized on. Guard Jordan Poole continued his offensive tear, scoring 26 points and adding seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s miscues. Rookie Alexander Sarr also contributed a solid 19 points in the loss.
Washington has struggled throughout the season, ranking 23rd in scoring offense and 27th in both field goal shooting and three-point shooting. They have been highly inconsistent offensively and are last in the NBA in offensive efficiency. Despite these struggles, the Wizards have found ways to remain slightly ahead of the Pelicans in the standings, thanks in part to their ability to pull down rebounds, ranking 12th in the NBA in total rebounds per game.
Defensively, the Wizards are last in the NBA in scoring defense, and that was evident in their last game when they allowed 132 points to the Pelicans. While their three-point defense is 13th in the league, they still rank poorly in field goal defense (21st) and defensive efficiency (28th). If Washington is to bounce back and avoid further losses, they will need to tighten up on both ends of the floor, particularly by cutting down on turnovers and improving their defensive rotations.
Conclusion
While the Pelicans broke their losing streak, it’s hard to see them sustaining that level of play against a motivated Wizards team. Washington, despite their struggles, still has more firepower on offense, especially with Poole and Sarr playing key roles. If they can avoid the costly turnovers that plagued them in the previous matchup, the Wizards should bounce back at home.
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