Pelicans rout Hawks 121-99 behind reserve scoring surge

The New Orleans Pelicans scored 121 points to beat the Atlanta Hawks 99 on Saturday night. The final margin of 22 points capped a performance where the visitors took an early lead and never let go.

Saddiq Bey led the scoring with 25 points off the bench. Jeremiah Fears added 20 points to complete a 45-point output from the reserves. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each finished with 15 points for the winning team.

The Pelicans established a 28-point advantage during the game. They held a 47-29 lead after the second quarter. The team extended that gap to 84-36 by halftime. The Hawks could not close the distance in the second half.

CJ McCollum played for Atlanta in his first game against his former team since June 2025. He scored 14 points in the loss. A tribute video for the guard played on the courtside screens during the matchup. The home crowd applauded the production.

The Pelicans shot 65% from the field in the first quarter. They converted 15 of 23 shots in that opening frame. The team maintained high efficiency throughout the contest. They limited the Hawks to 36% shooting for the game.

This victory marks the second straight win for New Orleans. The team had lost its first four games of the season. The Hawks dropped their fifth game in the last six attempts. The visiting squad has not won a game in the current stretch.