Zion Williamson blasted the Pelicans after a second consecutive crushing defeat, a 145‑111 loss at home to a Brooklyn team with only two wins. The setback followed a franchise‑record 51‑point drubbing by Golden State two days earlier. Can the club reverse the slide?
Williamson labeled the showing unacceptable and pinpointed several key areas for improvement.
“As men, as a unit—players, coaches, everyone—we must stare at ourselves in the mirror and ask, ‘Did I do everything required for my team?’” he said. “Was I in the right defensive spots? Did I contest shots and give full effort? Everyone needs that self‑check.”
Despite a history of injuries, Williamson stayed on the floor for 62 games last season and has logged 11 of the first 12 contests this year, averaging 32.7 minutes. The 2019 No. 1 pick has never reached the playoffs, and after the squad slipped to 4‑8, he hopes his presence can spark a turnaround.
“Nobody wants to lose like this,” Williamson warned. “If we’re dissatisfied, it starts with us. Look in the mirror, ask if you did what the team needed, not just individually, and we’ll move forward.”
More updates from New Orleans.
- The Pelicans have yielded 145, 138 and 139 points in their last three outings, a red flag for coach Jamahl Mosley. Hired this summer to tighten the defense after a strong Orlando stint, Mosley conceded, “I’m not doing my job by getting guys to sit down and guard.”
- Before Wednesday’s game, Mosley explained why Derik Queen left the bench and roamed the court during Monday’s clash at Golden State (Twitter video from Luca Evans, The San Francisco Chronicle), according to Rod Walker of NOLA. “Queen had mentioned a neck issue before the game,” Mosley said. “He stepped off to treat it rather than sit on the bench, which made locker‑room access tricky.” Even with that rationale, Mosley added, “The optics aren’t what we want.”
- Dejounte Murray erased a tweet that hinted at frustration after Wednesday’s loss, ClutchPoints’ Paolo Mariano reported. When confronted with the Pelicans’ poor record in games he’s played, Murray replied, “From what’s happening INSIDE, it feels like someone hit you to say this! THE ‘SABOTAGE’ IS REAL!!!!!!”