It was the New Orleans Pelicans' turn to make sweet music as they set a franchise record for points with the 153-124 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday (PHL).
On the whole, they shot 57.7% from the field, making 23 of 46 shots from rainbow country. CJ McCollum paved the way with 33 points, along with five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
Six more players registered double-digit points, with Herbert Jones making 22, Brandon Ingram adding 18, Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas pitching in 17 each, Trey Murphy III delivering 14, and Larry Nance Jr. catching up with 12.
The Pelicans' previous scoring record was 149 with a win over the Sacramento Kings back in October 2018.
ballin' out@CJMcCollum: 33p/5r/2a@_hoopinglife: 22p/5r/5a@B_Ingram13: 18p/5r/6a@JValanciunas: 17p/13r/3a@zionwilliamson: 17p/3/11a#Pelicans | @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/aEIYObFeqi
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 24, 2024
"It was just an incredible performance by the guys in that locker room, sharing the basketball, rebounding," Pelicans coach Willie Green said.
"CJ ignited the whole group. He got us going early. It’s extremely gratifying to see the team buy into what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s great for them to continue to trust that if the shots are open for us, we’re going to take them."
The Pelicans improved to 26-18 for no. 5 in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Collin Sexton led the Jazz with 22 points and seven assists in the losing effort. They drop to 22-23 for no. 10 in the West.
What he said
Are y'all ready for Point Zion?
The Pelicans also registered a franchise-high of 41 assists. Leading the charge? Williamson with a career-high 11 dimes.
"It’s just the coaches and my teammates trusting me to be ‘Point Zion’ throughout most of the game to get a feel for the game and where my teammates are going to be," Williamson said.
"The coaches asked, ‘What is your mindset at the beginning of a game?’ and it was to get the lay of the land. The coaches told me I needed to be more aggressive at the start of the game."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
