NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The struggling Pelicans hit another low Monday night (March 17), flailing their way to a season-low points total in an embarrassing 127-81 loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons.
New Orleans made just 5 of 32 3-point shots (15.6 percent) in one of their worst shooting performances of the season. The Pelicans were 28 of 86 from the floor overall (32.6 percent).
Starting guard C.J. McCollum most embodied the futility as the Pelicans (18-51) lost their 51th game of the year, and by 46 points, matching the biggest losing margin in franchise history.
McCollum missed 14 of 15 shots — including all seven of his 3-point attempts — to wind up with three points in 30 minutes played.
But McCollum was hardly alone. Backcourt mate Jose Alvarado was 1 for 10 in the game, including 1 for 9 on 3-point attempts, contributing three points in his 28 minutes.
New Orleans’ previous worst scoring output this season came Dec. 1, in a 118-85 loss at New York.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 30 points, six rebounds and three assists, along with a memorable power dunk over Isaiah Stewart.
The Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III exited the game after just one minute with an injury to his right shoulder. The team said X-rays were negative for a fracture, but his status for Wednesday’s game in Minnesota was unclear.
The Pelicans trailed by 31 points at halftime, 63-32. McCollum (0 for 10), Zion Williamson (1 for 7) and Alvarado (0 for 7) were a combined 1 for 24 from the floor in the first two quarters.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit (37-31) with 24 points and Simone Fontecchio added 23.
The Pistons outrebounded the Pelicans, 50-39, and shot nearly 55 percent from the field, including 13 for 35 from long distance.
New Orleans opens a three-game road trip Wednesday in Minneapolis, with the first of back-to-back games against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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