Brandon Ingram delivered a standout performance with 33 points, sealing the New Orleans Pelicans’ 123-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls in their season opener on Wednesday night. Ingram’s key moment came with a baseline turnaround jumper that put the game out of reach with 1:46 remaining.
In his Pelicans debut, newly-acquired point guard Dejounte Murray contributed 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds but suffered a left wrist injury in the fourth quarter. CJ McCollum also played a significant role, scoring 23 points for the Pelicans.
Zion Williamson was ruled out due to illness just before the game, marking his 207th missed regular-season game since being drafted first overall in 2019. Despite his absence, the Pelicans managed to secure the win.
For the Bulls, Zach LaVine led the scoring with 27 points, and Nikola Vucevic added a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulls struggled, trailing for most of the second half and facing a deficit as large as 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Smith and Josh Giddey contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Bulls, while Jordan Hawkins added 13 points for New Orleans.
One noteworthy development was the performance of 7-foot rookie Yves Missi, who played 23 minutes due to Williamson’s absence. Originally thought to be too raw for significant playing time, Missi impressed with 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and a steal, earning a standing ovation when he left the court with 4:20 to go.
Ingram’s third three-pointer of the night ignited a critical 13-2 run for the Pelicans, pushing their lead to 107-92. The Bulls, on the other hand, struggled with ball control, committing 21 turnovers that resulted in 30 points for New Orleans, with LaVine accounting for seven of those turnovers.
Looking ahead, the Bulls will visit Milwaukee on Friday, while the Pelicans will embark on a four-game road trip, starting at Portland.