10/31/2026 08:55:00
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10/31 20:53 CDT Saddiq Bey and Jeremiah Fears lead the Pelicans past the Hawks,
121-99
Saddiq Bey and Jeremiah Fears lead the Pelicans past the Hawks, 121-99
By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) --- Saddiq Bey scored 25 points in a reserve role, Jeremiah
Fears added 20 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Atlanta Hawks
121-99 on Saturday night.
Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each scored 15 for the Pelicans, who lead
by 28 en route to their second straight victory after losing their first four
games.
CJ McCollum, playing in New Orleans for the first time since the Pelicans
traded him to Washington in June 2025, scored 14 points for Atlanta. Fans
applauded while a tribute video that the Pelicans produced for McCollum played
on the videoboards above the court.
But the Hawks, who've lost four of five, missed 38 of 46 3-point shots (17.4%)
they attempted and never trailed by fewer than 10 points after falling behind
by that amount late in the first quarter.
Making matters worse for Atlanta, reserve guard Kingston Flemmings, who scored
12 points, received a technical foul and was ejected for elbowing Pelicans
reserve guard Bryce McGowens in the face during the final minutes.
The incident caused a brief scrum in which most players and coaches served as
peace makers. Officials reviewed video before ejecting Flemmings.
Both of New Orleans' victories have come since first-year coach Jamahl Mosley
tinkered with the starting lineup, inserting versatile Croation Karlo Matkovic
at and defensive standout Herb Jones at shooting guard. They joined incumbent
starters Williamson, Murphy and Fears.
Matkovic grabbed 10 rebounds and hit a pair of corner 3s on his way to eight
points. Jones scored 11 points. Fears, meanwhile, hit the 20-point mark for a
second straight game.
The Pelicans raced to a 35-18 lead in the first quarter, when they shot 56% and
turned eight Hawks turnovers into 16 points. New Orleans still led by double
digits at halftime, 63-48.
New Orleans led by as many as 20 in the third quarter before taking a 92-74
lead into the fourth quarter.
Up next
Hawks: At Indiana on Monday night.
Pelicans: At Memphis on Monday night.
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