Pelicans: Preview of first real matchup with Lonzo Ball and the Bulls
It wasn’t the ideal start for the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night after a 117-97 loss to the Philidelphia 76ers. Josh Hart is questionable due to right quadriceps injury and Zion Williamson is still out with his surgically repaired foot.
The shorthanded Pels will look to bounce back Friday as they are on the road against the Chicago Bulls for the first official matchup against former Pelican, Lonzo Ball.
New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls last games
The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Sixers by 20 in front of the home crowd on Wednesday. Brandon Ingram led the team with 25 points and eight rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas was one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds but had the worst shooting night of his career, hitting just 3-of-19 shots, most of them near the rim. The team struggled to defend the perimeter as the Sixers shot 52 percent. They will need to step up and play tighter defense to get the win over the Bulls.
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Chicago won their first game on the road 94-88 against the Detriot Pistons. Lonzo had 12 points and six rebounds in the win. He also shot 41 percent from the field in his debut. Bulls star Zach LaVine had a game-high 34 points and seven rebounds to lead the Bulls to victory over the feisty Pistons.
The 2021-22 season
These teams play twice this year. Pelicans are on the road on Friday at 8 pm, then they play again on March 24th, 2022 at home. That game will be Lonzo Ball’s first game back in the Smoothie King Center since his trade early this offseason.
History
The Bulls have a 24-18 series advantage over the New Orleans Pelicans. Chicago is on a two game winning streak versus the Pelicans, winning both matchups last season in two very close games. Before then, the Pelicans were on a six game winning streak against the Bulls that started in the 2017-2018 season. In the one preseason game they played this year, Chicago won 121-85 with Lonzo Ball dropping 19 points, five rebounds and four assists.
He will look to have another big night against his former team and the Pelicans will try to keep him and Zach LaVine in check to get their first “W” of the season.
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