Pelicans Fall To 76ers In Summer League Finale
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The New Orleans Pelicans (3-2) were prevented finishing on a winning streak as the Philadelphia 76ers won 117-114 in the 2023 NBA 2K24 Summer League finale.
New Orleans struggled to score in the opening period trailing 18-14 after ten minutes. The Pelicans shot 6-of-19 from the field, committed seven turnovers, and didn't have a player to score more than one shot in the first quarter.
The 76ers started and stayed hot all quarter. DJ Steward scored 8 points for the Sixers, and they took care of the ball, committing two turnovers.
New Orleans would flip the script in the second quarter. Philadelphia came into the matchup giving up the second-most points per game, and the Pelicans took advantage. New Orleans scored 37 points in the second quarter to trim the Philly lead to 5 by halftime. E.J. Liddell scored 11 points in the quarter, and the team took better care of the basketball. They committed only two turnovers and shot 12/20 from the floor in the period.
The second half was a see-saw affair. New Orleans guard Landers Nolley II hit a three-point shot to tie the game at 83 heading into the fourth quarter. The Pelicans seemed poised to win their fourth straight game after Dyson Daniels' layup gave them a one-point lead with 1:26 to go.
However, Philadelphia then went on a 7-0 run to distance themselves from the Pelicans. Dereon Seabron failed to make a 27-foot game-tying shot with 1.2 seconds left, resulting in the win for the Sixers.
The 76ers DJ Steward led all scorers with 36 points on 13/20 shooting. E.J. Liddell paced New Orleans with 23 points, two rebounds, and two assists. Dyson Daniels had another near triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Pelicans first-round pick Jordan Hawkins played 29 minutes and scored 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, and snagged four steals on the afternoon.
Unlike last season's Summer League, the Pelicans suffered no significant injuries and will head into training camp relatively healthy. The next time New Orleans will be on the court in Smoothie King Center for their preseason home opener on Oct. 10.