The New Orleans Pelicans have moved to 10-5 since the All-Star break with their 105-99 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite not having Dejounte Murray in the lineup due to it being the second night of a back-to-back, they managed to come out on top. With his star guard sidelined, interim head coach James Borrego opted to do something he's done often this season, which is run a non-traditional starting five.
Borrego rolled out a lineup of Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III in the backcourt with Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson at the forward spots, and Yves Missi holding things down in the middle. This season, any time the Pelicans have run guardless lineups, we often see Zion Williamson step up as the team's lead playmaker. But on Thursday night, it was actually Saddiq Bey who stepped up to bat, dishing out six assists.
Through the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign, Bey has been the most consistent and reliable player for New Orleans, as on any given night, he's willing to step into whatever role the team needs.
Some nights, he's tasked with carrying the team with his scoring in the clutch—other nights, it's about making stops defensively or fighting on the glass. Against the Clippers, he was tasked with playing the Dejounte Murray role, and he did exactly that.
Saddiq Bey continues to show he's the definition of plug-and-play
Throughout his high school, collegiate, and professional basketball career, Bey has never once been viewed as a playmaker or passer. That's why his performance against LA is so impressive, because he didn't just record six assists, he did so without turning the ball over. He was also the only starter on the Pelicans to record zero turnovers in the win.
Oftentimes, when players are catapulted into a role they don't typically play, the rest of their game disappears because they become hyper-focused on a different set of responsibilities. That wasn't the case at all for Bey.
Even though he was tasked with playmaking and creating for others, he still snagged six rebounds and scored a very efficient 20 points. The soon-to-be 27-year-old shot 54.5 percent from the field and an impressive 3-for-4 from three while also going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
Bey's ability to adjust on the fly and buy into whatever role he's needed to play for the Pelicans to have a shot at winning has been his superpower all season long. When he was acquired, many fans viewed him as a throw-in as part of the Jordan Poole trade. But now more than ever, he looks like the real prize of that deal and someone who is a lock as part of the New Orleans Pelicans' long-term future.