NEW ORLEANS — Jeremiah Fears has given the Pelicans an encouraging answer at guard. Their preseason finale now offers a chance to connect that spark with a steadier team performance.
Washington visits Smoothie King Center on Friday as Jamahl Mosley completes his final exhibition evaluation. New Orleans arrives at 2–1 after a 101–97 win in Dallas. The result offered plenty to build on, along with a clear reminder that late possessions and free throws can turn an apparently manageable night into a scramble.
The Pelicans’ three preseason results — wins over Oklahoma City and Dallas around a loss in Miami — provide the background for Friday’s matchup. The immediate question is which habits can carry into meaningful games.Game at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Washington Wizards at New Orleans Pelicans |
| When | Friday, October 16, 2026 • 7 p.m. Central |
| Where | Smoothie King Center • New Orleans |
| Stage | Final preseason game |
| Next for New Orleans | Regular-season opener vs. Indiana • October 21 |
Official game details; Pelicans season announcement.
Fears has earned another close look
Fears scored 16 points with five assists and three steals in just over 20 minutes against Dallas. He shot 6-for-11 overall and 2-for-3 from three, giving New Orleans efficient scoring and useful creation from the same position. His production and Mosley’s changing preseason combinations were documented in Pelican Debrief’s Dallas review.
The next test is the speed of his decisions. Can he get the ball into the paint, recognize the second defender and move it before an advantage disappears? Can he organize the next action when the first option is covered? Those details will help determine how his minutes fit alongside the other ballhandlers.
Dejounte Murray missed the Dallas game with a toe issue. His availability and Friday’s starting five need confirmation before tipoff. New Orleans can use the finale to evaluate guard combinations without treating an exhibition lineup as a declaration about opening night.Pelicans individual stat box — October 14 at Dallas
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Other production |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Fears | 16 | 3 | 5 | 3 steals |
| Karlo Matković | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3-for-4 from three |
| Zion Williamson | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5-for-5 field goals |
| Yves Missi | 6 | 9 | 0 | 4 blocks |
| Derik Queen | 6 | 11 | 2 | 2 steals |
Dallas game box score • Previous-game statistics, not projections for tonight.
The frontcourt has several jobs to fill
Missi supplied rim protection, Queen worked the glass and Matković stretched the defense in Dallas. Their different strengths give Mosley useful choices. The harder task is finding combinations that can defend, rebound and preserve spacing across the same stretch of possessions.
Queen’s 11 rebounds came with 1-for-9 shooting. Williamson made every field-goal attempt but missed all four free throws. Those numbers, available in the final box score, identify different areas of work: efficient interior finishes for Queen and converting foul-line opportunities for Williamson.
For the wings, the assignment is to support that structure. Trey Murphy III’s movement can stretch a help defender’s decision, while Herb Jones’ positioning can protect a teammate behind the play. Productive offense should make the next pass easier. Reliable defense should make the second and third rotations predictable.
Washington can test the Pelicans’ size and communication
The Wizards are working through a frontcourt that includes Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton. Sarr has been building back from offseason surgery, and Washington’s combinations remain an important part of its preparation, according to Roundtable’s Friday report. Actual minutes and availability still need confirmation.
That makes the paint a useful measuring point. New Orleans needs early contact on rebounds, clear communication when a big switches onto a ballhandler and disciplined help when the ball reaches the lane. If Washington plays multiple big men together, the Pelicans can test whether their spacing creates open shots before the defense gets organized.Team stat box — New Orleans’ last outing
| Statistic | Pelicans | Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 101 | 97 |
| Field-goal percentage | 45.3% | 35.7% |
| Three-point percentage | 29.6% | 20.4% |
| Free throws | 25 of 38 | 27 of 32 |
| Assists | 19 | 21 |
| Steals | 14 | 8 |
| Blocks | 7 | 10 |
October 14 team statistics • This table describes the Dallas game, not Washington’s season averages.
Finish with habits that can travel into the season
New Orleans missed 13 free throws in Dallas and allowed 34 fourth-quarter points. As The Who Dat Daily’s recap outlined, those details left the closing possessions tighter than the Pelicans would have wanted.
Friday’s priorities are practical: take care of routine possessions, make the defense work for each shot and complete stops with rebounds. The reserves need the same level of organization when Mosley changes groups. A final exhibition is valuable when the team can carry those responsibilities from one lineup to the next.
The regular season is close enough for every successful repetition to matter. Fears’ development, the frontcourt balance and the defense’s communication give New Orleans compelling reasons to finish this preparation with purpose.Pelican Post Game Report
Keep the conversation going with Big Q.
Subscribe on YouTube →
