New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks Picks and Predictions November 3rd 2024

The New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks will face off on Sunday in New Orleans, each grappling with depleted rosters and relying heavily on their stars to keep their playoff hopes alive early in the season. Both teams are battling injury-related challenges, but they showed glimpses of their potential in recent games, thanks to the efforts of their key players and unexpected contributions from their supporting casts.

New Orleans Pelicans: Piecing Together Wins Without Key Players

The Pelicans, led by fourth-year head coach Willie Green, are coming off a hard-fought 125-118 victory over the Indiana Pacers that snapped a three-game losing streak. Despite missing crucial players like CJ McCollum (adductor), Herbert Jones (shoulder/rotator cuff), Trey Murphy III (hamstring), and Dejounte Murray (hand), New Orleans relied on Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to secure the win.

Star Performances

• Zion Williamson had a monster game, bouncing back from a poor shooting performance (5 of 20) against Golden State to deliver 34 points on an efficient 14 of 20 shooting. He also dished out 10 assists, showcasing his ability to impact the game as both a scorer and a facilitator. “It was like I was painting my own picture, getting the lay of the land and once I got it, then I was on the attack,” Williamson said about his approach.
• Brandon Ingram chipped in 26 points, providing a steady scoring presence throughout the game. His partnership with Williamson is crucial as the Pelicans navigate their injury struggles and aim to maintain offensive consistency.

Supporting Cast Stepping Up

• Jordan Hawkins stepped into the starting lineup and scored 23 points, even playing through back soreness. His resilience and scoring ability have been a bright spot for the Pelicans, and he continues to impress as a reliable contributor.
• Jose Alvarado added 12 points in a starting role, while Brandon Boston Jr. provided 14 points off the bench in 23 minutes, proving essential to New Orleans’ offensive efforts.

Coach Green praised his team’s resilience and highlighted the leadership of Williamson and Ingram. “Everybody that touched the floor was huge for us,” Green said, emphasizing the importance of contributions from the entire roster.

Atlanta Hawks: Competing Despite Injuries

The Hawks are also dealing with a slew of injuries. They played without starters De’Andre Hunter (knee) and Dyson Daniels (hip), as well as rotation players Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring), Vit Krejci (thigh), and Kobe Bufkin (shoulder), in their recent 121-118 loss to the Sacramento Kings. However, Atlanta put up a valiant effort, especially in the fourth quarter, cutting an 18-point deficit to just two points midway through the period.

Trae Young’s Heroics

• Trae Young once again took center stage, finishing with 25 points and 12 assists. Hawks coach Quin Snyder lauded Young’s performance, emphasizing his ability to handle the defensive pressure and trust his teammates. “Everybody should get their pens out and start writing about Trae Young,” Snyder said. “He got blitzed. He trusted his teammates. He wasn’t selfish.”

Bench Contributions

• Garrison Mathews had a career night, making seven 3-pointers and scoring 23 points off the bench. His shooting provided a significant spark, keeping Atlanta in the game and showcasing the depth Atlanta can still muster despite the injury setbacks.
• Despite the loss, Snyder was encouraged by the team’s defensive effort in the fourth quarter, calling it the best of the season. “We just competed. It was our best fourth quarter defensively of the year,” he said, highlighting the team’s resilience.

Key Matchup and Strategies

New Orleans’ Approach

The Pelicans will focus on maintaining the offensive rhythm they found against Indiana, with Williamson and Ingram leading the charge. They’ll need to rely on strong ball movement and keep up the defensive communication to contain Trae Young and limit Atlanta’s perimeter shooters like Garrison Mathews. The Pelicans’ ability to control the tempo and create high-quality scoring opportunities will be crucial.

Atlanta’s Game Plan

For the Hawks, Young’s playmaking and leadership will be critical as he faces constant defensive pressure. Coach Snyder will likely emphasize the importance of defensive toughness and trust in Young’s ability to manage the game. Atlanta will need another strong performance from Mathews and other role players to support Young and provide balanced scoring. Additionally, the Hawks must improve on their defensive schemes to slow down Williamson’s paint dominance and Ingram’s mid-range game.

What to Watch For

• Zion Williamson’s Impact: Can Williamson replicate his dominant performance and lead New Orleans to another crucial win? His versatility and physical presence make him a tough matchup for Atlanta’s defense.
• Trae Young’s Decision-Making: Young will be the focal point for Atlanta’s offense, and his ability to handle double-teams and create opportunities for his teammates will be key.
• Bench Contributions: With both teams relying on depth players, unexpected heroes could emerge. Watch for players like Jordan Hawkins and Garrison Mathews to play pivotal roles in the outcome.
• Defensive Adjustments: Both teams will need to make in-game adjustments on defense. Atlanta’s ability to defend the paint and New Orleans’ efforts to contest perimeter shots could define the game.

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Outlook

This game promises to be a hard-fought battle between two teams dealing with adversity. The Pelicans have the home-court advantage and the momentum from their recent win, but the Hawks have shown they can be competitive even with a depleted roster. The outcome may hinge on which team can better execute their game plan and find consistent scoring from their secondary players.