Pelicans Dominate NBL Rivals in Historic Australian Exhibition
The New Orleans Pelicans closed their Australia tour with a decisive 127-92 victory over South East Melbourne in a high-profile NBAxNBL exhibition at Rod Laver Arena. The win completed a 2-0 pre-season sweep of Australian rivals and underscored the Pelicans’ growing depth and defensive tenacity ahead of the regular season.
Williamson Leads with Defensive Brilliance
While Zion Williamson is widely anticipated to carry a breakout offensive campaign, his impact in this tune-up was felt most on the defensive end. Williamson logged limited minutes but made a tangible difference, particularly in the opening stretch, where his active hands and help defense set the tone. He finished with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, illustrating why many see him as a catalyst for both ends of the floor as New Orleans builds toward a deeper playoff run.
Balanced Scoring Again Highlights the Pelicans
New Orleans did not rely on one star to pace the attack. Saddiq Bey erupted for 21 points, providing a sharp shooting presence on the wing. Jordan Poole added 15 points, showing his shotmaking and playmaking ability, while Jeremiah Fears contributed 12 points and helped energize the Pelicans’ second unit with athletic bursts and timely finishes. The early surge, which pushed the Pelicans ahead by 20 points in the second period, demonstrated the team’s breadth of scoring options and its willingness to push tempo when opportunities arose.
Bench Power and Flair in a Comfortable Route
New Orleans leaned on depth, and the bench trio contributed meaningfully as the game progressed. Poole’s pair of assists and Fears’ double-clutch dunk—after Williamson’s defensive hustle—highlighted the Pelicans’ chemistry and willingness to share the ball. A half-court alley-oop connection between Poole and Karlo Matković fed the crowd and underscored the team’s creative execution on both sides of the floor. The Pelicans’ lead, which reached 74-55 at halftime, reflected a combination of precise execution and a favorable shooting night compared with their opponents.
Injury Note and NBL Context
New Orleans also faced a hiccup when guard Jose Alvarado twisted his right knee amid pressure from South East Melbourne’s Hunter Maldonado. He left the court in the third quarter and did not return, adding a reminder that preseason injuries can shape how teams manage minutes as camp continues. On the other side, South East Melbourne received solid contributions from Jordan Hunter (17), Nathan Sobey and Akech Aliir (16 each), showing competitiveness despite the lopsided final score.
Historical Significance and Series Impact
These games marked a watershed moment: the first NBA team to play Down Under in a formal series, further cementing the NBAxNBL collaboration. Since the series began in 2017, NBA teams have won the vast majority of these clashes, and the Pelicans’ competent performance against a competitive NBL side adds to the growing narrative that the exhibition has become a serious barometer ahead of the regular season.
Looking Ahead
As New Orleans heads into the regular season, the emphasis will be on maintaining health and translating this defensive intensity and shared scoring into 48-minute consistency. Williamson’s conditioning and the development of role players like Fears and Matković will be crucial as the Pelicans aim to maximize depth and pursue meaningful playoff positioning in a tougher Western Conference landscape.
