Player Grades from the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 loss to the Thunder

Zion Williamson:  A

What can you say about Zion? He is everything he’s been advertised and more. He ended the night with another career-high 32 points, and added six rebounds and an assist. Williamson did turn the ball over three times, mostly when he tried to do too much with the ball and took on three defenders in the lane. The most telling part about Williamson so far is how much different the Pelicans are when he is on the floor.

Every time Williamson left the game the Thunder were able to increase their lead and the Pelicans’ offense looked stagnant. With Williamson in the game the Pelicans moved the ball well and he was able to get some easy run-outs after the Thunder got him to switch onto a smaller defender. Moving forward, Alvin Gentry is going to have to find a way to keep the offense flowing when Zion leaves the game.

Nicolo Melli: C+

Melli impacted the game at times, but also disappeared for long stretches. He did end the game with three blocks, but the Thunder were mostly able to have their way in the lane, ending the game with 54 points in the paint. Melli did knock down two of five three-pointers, but also turned it over twice and wasn’t great on defense.

Derrick Favors:  C+

Favors got into early foul trouble again, picking up two fouls in the first quarter and spending most of the rest of the first half on the bench. He ended up playing just 20 minutes in a game where the Pelicans really could have used his presence in the paint. Favors did okay when he was in the game, grabbing nine rebounds and adding some much-needed rim protection. Favors has to do a better job of staying on the floor and not picking up cheap fouls. This was a night when the Pelicans desperately needed his rim protection, but Favors was on the bench.

Jaxson Hayes:  D

Hayes did not have a good game. Though he did grab two rebounds and three assists in his eight minutes of play, he looked confused on defense and had to be pulled from the game after blowing two defensive assignments.

Overall the Pelicans played a sloppy, scrappy game that they easily could have won had they cleaned up the turnovers. It was a frustrating loss and one the Pelicans may regret down the road when fighting for a playoff spot. The Pelicans still feel good about their chances going into the All-Star break but this is one they wish they could have back.