Brandon Ingram scored 33 points, sealing the victory with a baseline turnaround jumper in the closing moments, as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Chicago Bulls 123-111 on Wednesday night in their season opener. The Pelicans managed to secure the win despite the absence of Zion Williamson, who was ruled out due to illness shortly before the game. This marked the 207th missed regular-season game for Williamson since being drafted first overall in 2019.
In his debut for the Pelicans, new point guard Dejounte Murray contributed 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds before injuring his left hand in the fourth quarter. CJ McCollum also played a significant role, scoring 23 points.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 27 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulls struggled for most of the second half, trailing by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter. Jalen Smith and Josh Giddey chipped in with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
A notable bright spot for the Pelicans was rookie Yves Missi, who, despite initial doubts about his readiness to contribute significantly this season, played 23 minutes and recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and a steal. He received a standing ovation when he left the game with 4:20 remaining.
Ingram’s third three-pointer of the night helped the Pelicans surge ahead, capping a crucial 13-2 run during which he scored eight points. The Bulls struggled with ball security, turning the ball over 21 times, resulting in 30 points for New Orleans, with LaVine committing seven turnovers.
Next up, the Bulls will head to Milwaukee on Friday, while the Pelicans will start a four-game road trip against Portland.