Despite missing four key starters and several rotation players, the New Orleans Pelicans showed grit and promise in a tightly contested battle against the Milwaukee Bucks, ultimately falling 111-107 Sunday night in the Smoothie King Center.
With a lineup full of rookies and young contributors, the Pels fought tooth and nail but couldn’t quite overcome a Bucks team led by Gary Trent Jr., who dropped a season-high 29 points. Antonio Reeves impressed again with 23 points, while Yves Missi notched a double-double with 18 points and 12 boards.
Lester Quinones also continued to make the most of his opportunity with 17 points off the bench. The game was a showcase of heart and hustle, but a late surge by Milwaukee, including a Trent layup and a Kevin Porter Jr. steal-and-dunk combo, sealed the Pels’ third straight loss.
New Orleans struggled with ball security, and Milwaukee capitalized, converting 12 Pelicans turnovers into 18 crucial points. The Pels, already without Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and others, leaned heavily on reserves and recent call-ups to keep pace. Still, the young core showed flashes of potential in a game where effort wasn’t the issue—execution in key moments was.
With just a handful of games left, and a tough road trip looming, Willie Green’s squad will need to regroup quickly as they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Tuesday. Even in defeat, the growth of Reeves, Missi, and Quinones offered a silver lining in an otherwise frustrating night.
