Saddiq Bey scored 25 points off the bench and the New Orleans Pelicans shot 56.6% from the field in a 121-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Jeremiah Fears added 20 points and seven assists, while Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III scored 15 apiece. The Pelicans won their second consecutive game after opening the season with four losses.
New Orleans established control in the first quarter, outscoring Atlanta 35-18. The Pelicans led 63-48 at halftime and 92-74 after three quarters before stretching the margin to 28.
Bey made nine of 13 shots and added six rebounds and four steals. Karlo Matkovic contributed eight points and 10 rebounds, while the Pelicans finished with a 49-36 rebounding advantage.
The Pelicans scored 66 points in the paint and made 43 of 76 shots overall. Atlanta went 8 of 46 from 3-point range, a 17.4% rate, and committed 19 turnovers.
CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 14 points in his first game in New Orleans since the Pelicans traded him in June 2025. Jalen Johnson scored 13, and Kingston Flemings added 12 points and six assists.
New Orleans improved to 2-4 and ended a four-game losing streak against Atlanta. The Hawks fell to 3-4 with their fourth loss in five games.
The Pelicans' back-to-back wins have followed a starting-lineup change that moved Matkovic and Herb Jones into the first unit. Fears has scored at least 20 points in both victories.
New Orleans visits Denver on Monday. Atlanta returns home to play Orlando on Tuesday.
Sources
NBA — Atlanta at New Orleans game record, October 31, 2026: https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-nop-0022600149/blueprint