The New Orleans Pelicans gave their fans a reason to stay until the finish Tuesday night, rallying past the Oklahoma City Thunder in a preseason opener that turned early frustration into late celebration.

For a team working to establish its identity, the comeback offered an encouraging first response to adversity. New Orleans found itself chasing the game, but the Pelicans kept the night from becoming a comfortable finish for Oklahoma City.

There is plenty of work ahead. There is also something worth building on.

A rough beginning becomes a test of resolve

The early deficit created an immediate challenge for New Orleans: could the Pelicans regain their footing without allowing the scoreboard to dictate their effort?

That question matters even in October. Preseason games give coaches room to experiment, but they also reveal how players respond when an assignment becomes difficult. The result may not count toward the standings, yet the opportunity to compete through a difficult stretch still carries value.

Against Oklahoma City, the Pelicans gave themselves a chance to leave with more than lessons from a loss. They completed the comeback.

The response deserves credit—and perspective

The temptation after a dramatic rally is to treat it as proof that everything has changed. New Orleans has not earned that conclusion from one exhibition.

What the Pelicans have earned is credit for finishing a game that had slipped away from them earlier. A comeback requires sustained work. Cutting into a deficit matters only if a team can continue making enough plays to finish the job.

That distinction should shape the conversation around this victory. Fans can enjoy the result while still asking why New Orleans needed such a substantial recovery in the first place.

Both parts belong in the film session: the stretch that created the problem and the response that overcame it.

A useful starting point for the preseason

The next challenge is consistency. The Pelicans need to carry their resilience into games that begin with better execution, rather than repeatedly depending on a dramatic rescue.

For players competing for opportunities, every preseason possession is a chance to strengthen their case. Coaches must evaluate who communicates, who maintains discipline and who contributes when the game becomes uncomfortable—not simply who appears in the final winning lineup.

Tuesday’s rally gives New Orleans a positive result to accompany that evaluation. It should bring energy to the next practice without hiding the corrections still needed.

Nobody hangs a banner for a preseason comeback. But for a fan base eager to see a team respond instead of unravel, this was an enjoyable opening chapter.

The Pelicans had a difficult night in front of them. They found a winning finish.

Keep the conversation going with Big Q and the Pelican Post Game Report. What impressed you most about the comeback—and what still needs to improve?