Saddiq Bey scored 25 and the Pelicans beat Atlanta 99-121 while missing three players. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 13 and now carries a day-to-day ankle tag into the Nov. 2 game at Indiana.
How New Orleans Took It
Atlanta lost 99-121 to a Pelicans team playing without Yves Missi, Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray, and that list of absences makes this one sting more. The tone arrived fast. Up 4-2, the Hawks gave up an 8-0 first-quarter run that made it 4-10, and Quin Snyder called timeout at 6-12 with 6:55 still left in the opening quarter. Jeremiah Fears went 3-of-4 for 6 points in that first stretch, and Zion Williamson made three trips to the line count. The bigger problem was Bey, who led New Orleans with 25 points and 6 rebounds. Atlanta never found anybody to match him.
Grades From the Box
Jalen Johnson, B: he topped the Hawks at 13, added 7 boards and 4 assists, then picked up a day-to-day listing for his left ankle. Dyson Daniels, C: a steal and 2-of-2 at the line in his first 7 minutes, but 0-for-1 from the field. Onyeka Okongwu, D: an 0-for-2 start with 3 rebounds over the opening 7 minutes, after the frontcourt had been the story two nights earlier. Every Atlanta starter was minus-6 in that opening stint, and Luguentz Dort was even in 2 minutes off the bench. At the finish, the five on the floor were Aaron Wiggins, Johnson, Jock Landale, Kingston Flemings and Dort.
What It Costs Next
The standings still list Atlanta 3-3 and sixth in the East, with Indiana tenth at 2-4 and the Hawks one game clear of 11th. That cushion gets tested right away. The trip continues at the Pacers on Nov. 2 and at Washington on Nov. 4, then the Wizards visit State Farm Arena on Nov. 6 to open Emirates NBA Cup play and Brooklyn comes in on Nov. 7. Fatigue is part of the story: the Hawks played four games in the previous seven days to three for New Orleans, and they get two days before the next tip. Health matters more. Landale is out with a left hip injury and an estimated Nov. 2 return, Mouhamed Gueye is out with a left foot injury until an estimated Nov. 20, and Johnson's ankle is the one that matters most. The current pace projects to 41-41, and this core is supposed to be better than that, starting with the Pacers.
Who led the Hawks in scoring against the Pelicans?
Jalen Johnson scored 13 and added 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the 99-121 loss. Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 25.
Is Jalen Johnson playing against the Pacers?
He is listed day-to-day with a left ankle injury. Jock Landale is out with a left hip injury and an estimated return of Nov. 2.
