Williamson, starters impress in Pelicans preseason opening loss to Magic

Postgame Quotes & Notes

It was our first look at Zion Williamson in a long time. It was a good look.

Williamson looked fit and he was active, the starting lineup played solidly before reserves faltered Tuesday night in a 122-105 loss to Orlando at Smoothie King Center.

Early on, Williamson missed a on a couple of drives to the basket early.

Appropriately, his first basket was a dunk on a nice feed by Naji Marshall before he scored again, making a pair of free throws off a lob attempt as he again attacked the basket. He then threw in a runner at the buzzer to cap a seven-point quarter as the Pelicans closed the period on a 15-5 run to take a 38-26 lead. Williamson had three assists and three rebounds as well in the quarter.

New Orleans shot the ball well (13-of-23) at 56 percent in the quarter.

First-round pick Jordan Hawkins sank his first 3-pointer on a nice skip pass from Williamson.

Playing fast, Orlando blistered New Pelicans for 41 points in the second quarter to cut the New Orleans lead to 68-67 at the break.

Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 14 points and four rebounds while Williamson had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists and C.J. McCollum had 12 points. The big three would not play in the second half.

New Orleans showed off its new approach under new offensive assistant coach James Borrego, taking 19 shots from 3-point range in the half, making seven.

The Pelicans got sloppy late in the second quarter, finishing the half with nine turnovers.

New Orleans opened the second half with all reserves, including E.J. Lidell, Hawkins, Naji Marshall, Kira Lewis and Dyson Daniels.

That was against the regular starting five for Orlando.

The result was predictable.

The Magic starters dominated the young Pelicans to start the quarter, outscoring New Orleans 21-10 to start the period.

Orlando was in the penalty with 8:27 to play in the third quarter.

Once the Magic went to its reserves, the Pelicans made a run to cut the Orlando lead to 88-87 heading to the fourth quarter as the Pelicans closed the quarter on a 7-0 run.

The fourth quarter was a zero for New Orleans, as the back-end players on the current roster fell apart as the Magic outscored the Pelicans 34-18.

Deron Seabron had his moments and finished with 13 points and five rebounds.

Without Trey Murphy until at least November, a concern for the Pelicans will be perimeter shooting.

The Pelicans were 1-of-14 from 3-point range in the second half, 8-of-33 for the game.

McCollum and Ingram will have to deliver and Herb Jones must keep teams honest with corner 3’s.

Hawkins has a good stroke but he is a rookie and he was just 1-of-6 from 3-point range.

Lewis was 1-of-4 from 3-point range.

Daniels still cannot be counted on in that aspect. He was 1-of-4 from distance.

The same is true of Marshall, not a deep shooter and he was 0-for-4.

The Pelicans are without Jose Alvarado and Larry Nance Jr., both of whom have a chance to return for the start of the regular season.

Orlando is a good young team that went from 22 wins two seasons ago to 34 wins last year. That trend will continue this year as the Magic are fast, talented and have depth.

Preseason game No. 2 of four for the Pelicans is Thursday night against Houston in Birmingham, Alabama.

The regular season opener is October 25 at Memphis.