There is something different happening with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Not necessarily something spectacular. Not yet something that should have the Western Conference trembling. But something that deserves attention.

Leaving Memphis with a DUB ✔️#Pelicans | @HancockWhitney pic.twitter.com/VHSHGXgQvU

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 3, 2026

After opening the season with four consecutive losses, New Orleans has responded with three straight victories, bringing its record to 3–4 entering Wednesday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz.

For a team that looked uncomfortable, disconnected and uncertain about its identity during the opening week, that’s meaningful progress.

But here’s where the conversation gets interesting.

Are the Pelicans becoming a genuinely better basketball team, or have they simply enjoyed a productive stretch against opponents they were capable of beating?

Wednesday’s matchup against Utah offers another opportunity to separate temporary momentum from lasting improvement.

Jamahl Mosley Is Beginning to Find His Rotation

One of the biggest early criticisms of head coach Jamahl Mosley involved his personnel decisions.

The Pelicans possessed offensive talent, defensive versatility and enough depth to experiment with different combinations. What they lacked was consistency in how those pieces fit together.

The recent starting lineup featuring Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson and Karlo Matković suggests Mosley is searching for a more balanced identity.

That combination offers a blend of perimeter defense, offensive creation and interior activity.

More importantly, it creates a clearer distribution of responsibilities.

Fears can organize the offense. Murphy provides perimeter scoring. Herb Jones brings defensive accountability. Zion pressures defenses around the basket.

Matković provides size and an interior presence while Yves Missi remains sidelined.

It’s not a finished product, but it’s a more understandable one.

Zion Williamson Must Set the Standard

The Pelicans are at their most dangerous when Zion plays with aggression, purpose and an understanding of how much defensive attention he commands.

He doesn’t need to force spectacular plays.

He needs to make the correct ones consistently.

Attack mismatches. Collapse the defense. Trust teammates when opponents overload the paint.

Utah’s depleted frontcourt presents an opportunity for New Orleans to establish itself near the basket.

The Jazz are dealing with significant injuries, including absences involving Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić.

That should create opportunities for Zion and the Pelicans’ interior attack.

But opportunity and execution are two different things.

Don’t Ignore What Happened in Utah

The Pelicans have already experienced the frustration of losing to this Jazz team.

Utah defeated New Orleans 120–119 in the October 23 meeting.

That one-point loss is a reminder that talent alone doesn’t finish games.

The Pelicans cannot afford to confuse Utah’s 1–6 record with an automatic victory.

Lauri Markkanen remains capable of punishing defensive mistakes, and Keyonte George can create offensive pressure.

If New Orleans relaxes defensively or becomes careless with possessions, the Jazz have enough ability to make this uncomfortable.

Three Things That Will Decide the Game

Interior dominance: New Orleans must attack Utah’s compromised frontcourt rather than settling for difficult perimeter attempts.

Defensive discipline: Herb Jones and the perimeter defenders need to prevent Utah from finding an early shooting rhythm.

Fourth-quarter execution: The Pelicans must show that their recent improvement includes the ability to close games without unnecessary drama.

Final Thoughts: Winning Is Only the Beginning

Three consecutive victories have changed the mood around New Orleans.

They haven’t yet changed the team’s long-term expectations.

The Pelicans need to develop habits that survive tougher opponents, difficult road trips and the inevitable adversity of an 82-game season.

Wednesday night’s game against Utah is another opportunity to build those habits.

The challenge isn’t simply winning a fourth straight game.

It’s proving that the team which lost its first four games is no longer the team taking the floor.

Game information: Wednesday, November 4, 7 p.m. CT, Smoothie King Center. Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole are listed as probable; Yves Missi is out.