The New Orleans Pelicans Summer League squad showed plenty of resilience Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.
After falling behind by as many as 18 points and trailing for nearly the entire contest, New Orleans stormed back with a dominant fourth quarter to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 95-91, earning its first Summer League victory after opening the tournament with a loss.
It wasn’t always pretty, but it was exactly the type of performance Summer League is designed to produce—young players responding to adversity, adjusting on the fly, and finishing games with confidence.
Fourth Quarter Turns the Tide
Charlotte appeared to have control throughout most of the afternoon.
The Hornets led 33-22 after the opening quarter and maintained the advantage through halftime before taking a 76-65 lead into the final period.
Then everything changed.
The Pelicans exploded for 30 fourth-quarter points while holding Charlotte to just 15, completely flipping the momentum.
New Orleans’ defensive intensity became the difference. The Pelicans forced mistake after mistake, turning defensive pressure into transition offense and easy baskets down the stretch.
Dickinson Leads the Charge
Hunter Dickinson delivered his strongest performance of the Summer League, finishing with:
Whenever New Orleans needed a basket, Dickinson answered.
His ability to stretch the floor while also scoring inside gave the Hornets problems throughout the second half.
Bufkin Continues to Impress
Former first-round guard Kobe Bufkin filled the stat sheet once again.
He finished with:
19 points 6 rebounds 5 assists 4 steals
Bufkin’s activity on both ends of the floor helped ignite the comeback.
While his perimeter shot wasn’t always falling, his ability to attack, defend, and create opportunities for teammates proved invaluable during the closing minutes.
Supporting Cast Delivers
Several other Pelicans made meaningful contributions.
Jalon Moore added 13 points and 4 rebounds, while making several timely plays during the second half.
Rookie Jaron Pierre Jr. chipped in 12 points, despite an inconsistent shooting afternoon, and continued showing confidence attacking the basket.
Off the bench, Melvin Council Jr. supplied energy with six points and solid defensive effort, while Malik Dia added six points and four rebounds.
Defense Won the Game
The box score tells the story.
Despite being out rebounded 49-30 and shooting a lower percentage than Charlotte, New Orleans found another way to win.
The Pelicans forced 22 Hornets turnovers, compared to just seven of their own.
Those extra possessions completely changed the outcome.
Final Take
This wasn’t just about winning a Summer League game.
It was about watching young players respond when things weren’t going their way.
The Pelicans never panicked despite trailing by double digits for most of the afternoon. Instead, they trusted their defensive principles, shared the basketball, and let their energy dictate the game’s closing stretch.
That’s exactly what Summer League should accomplish.
Hunter Dickinson continues looking more comfortable in the offense, Kobe Bufkin appears ready to take on a leadership role, and several young players are beginning to establish themselves as legitimate developmental pieces moving forward.
The comeback also reflects the culture God Shammgod is trying to establish with this Summer League group—a team that competes regardless of the score.
What’s Next?
The Pelicans won’t have much time to celebrate.
New Orleans returns to action Sunday afternoon when it faces the Phoenix Suns in its third Summer League contest.
With momentum finally on its side, the Pelicans will look to build on Saturday’s comeback and continue evaluating one of the organization’s most intriguing young rosters in recent years.
Gee Bino is a senior writer and columnist for The Who Dat Daily, covering the New Orleans Saints, Pelicans, LSU athletics, and the Gulf South sports landscape. He specializes in roster construction, player development, salary cap strategy, and breaking news coverage. Follow The Who Dat Daily for daily news, analysis, and exclusive team coverage.
