Part 3/11:
The worst came in games against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. Against Denver, the Pelicans struggled offensively—failing to reach 60 points by the end of the third quarter—and defensively, giving up over 120 points with ease through sloppy rotations and missed assignments. When Zion Williamson was off the floor, Denver seemingly had unfettered access to the basket, exposing defensive lapses and personnel issues.
The matchup against the Clippers further exemplified these struggles, with a heartbreaking loss on a Kawhi Leonard game-winner, leaving the Pelicans with an 0-5 start. These outcomes paint a picture of a team that is fundamentally out of sync on both ends of the floor.