The New Orleans Pelicans picked up its first win of the season thanks in part to the contributions of the several former Duke Basketball players on the team.
After the highly anticipated season debut of the New Orleans Pelicans, five games later the team finally has its first win of the year.
New Orleans notched its first win on Thursday, October 31 against the Denver Nuggets and the Pelicans can thank the several former Duke Basketball players on the team for the victory.
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Jahlil Okafor, the 2015 National Champion with the Blue Devils, led the way for the Pelicans as the big man as inserted into the starting lineup and after logging 34 minutes and a team high 26 points, Okafor dominated the paint.
The Chicago native also had five rebounds, one assist, two steals, and a block in the win, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and an impressive 10-of-13 from the free throw line.
Brandon Ingram has been the star for this New Orleans team in the absence of Zion Williamson and the former Blue Devil has not disappointed.
On Wednesday night, Ingram was on the floor for a team-high 36 minutes and scored 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and 9-of-11 from the charity stripe.
The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft also accumulated three rebounds and five assists in the 122-107 victory.
Frank Jackson came off the bench for the Pelicans and he gave a much needed spark to New Orleans, scoring 21 points in just 19 minutes.
Jackson also grabbed three rebounds but shot a scorching 8-of-10 from the field, 4-of-6 from the 3-point line, and split a pair at the free throw line.
J.J. Redick also came off the bench for New Orleans and while he didn’t have as productive of a night as the other three Blue Devils, the veteran was perfect on the game, scoring seven points, on 2-of-2 shooting, making his only 3-point attempt, and making both of his free throw attempts.
The four former Duke Basketball players scored 79 of the Pelicans 122 points, the scoring outputs for Jackson and Okafor were both seasons highs for those former Blue Devils.
At 1-4 on the season, the New Orleans Pelicans will hit the road for a two game road trip starting on Saturday, November 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder and then on Monday, November 4 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Redick said in a Duke Blue Planet interview that the five former Blue Devils on the Pelicans, Zion Williamson included, were planning to attended Duke’s game on November 5 at Madison Square Garden against the Kansas Jayhawks and while it still remains to be seen if the players will attend, Zion’s status is even more in question as he is out with an injured right knee.