Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans
· National Basketball AssociationAlvarado's 3-pointer sends Pelicans past Hornets for their first win of the season
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points for the Pelicans, who had dropped their first six games. Their victory left the Brooklyn Nets (0-7) as the NBA's only winless team.
Alvarado added 18 points and fellow reserve Saddiq Bey had 17 for the Pelicans, who announced earlier Tuesday that Zion Williamson would miss at least a week because of a strained left hamstring.
Miles Bridges scored 22 points and rookie Kon Knueppel had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who played without LaMelo Ball for a second straight game because of a right ankle injury.
Trailing by two at halftime, Charlotte opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run to take a lead it held all the way until Alvarado dribbled right and pulled up for his go-ahead shot.
Rookie Derik Queen then came up with his fourth steal of the game after Charlotte inbounded and Murphy made two free throws to make it 115-112. Bridges missed a tying 3-point attempt and Bey made a free throw to close the scoring.
Queen scored all of his 12 points in the final quarter and also had eight rebounds and seven assists in 18 minutes.
Pelicans: Visit Dallas on Wednesday.
Regular Season Series
NO leads series 1-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 112 - 116 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 112 - 116 |
| 4th 1.2 |  |
Hornets offensive team rebound | 112 - 116 |
| 4th 1.2 | |
Kon Knueppel misses 29-foot three point pullup jump shot | 112 - 116 |
| 4th 3.3 | |
Sion James defensive rebound | 112 - 116 |
Statistics
 CHA |
 NO |
|
|---|---|---|
| 39-82 | FG | 43-90 |
| 48 | Field Goal % | 48 |
| 13-38 | 3PT | 17-38 |
| 34 | Three Point % | 45 |
| 21-28 | FT | 13-19 |
| 75 | Free Throw % | 68 |
| 49 | Rebounds | 39 |
| 15 | Offensive Rebounds | 13 |
| 34 | Defensive Rebounds | 26 |
| 20 | Assists | 27 |
| 8 | Steals | 9 |
| 6 | Blocks | 3 |
| 19 | Turnovers | 12 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 20 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 22 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 11 |
| 11 | Fast Break Points | 25 |
| 48 | Points in Paint | 46 |
| 23 | Fouls | 20 |
| 9 | Largest Lead | 12 |
New Orleans Pelicans Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Poole, G | Day-To-Day | Dec 26 |
| Herbert Jones, F | Out | Dec 25 |
| Dejounte Murray, G | Out | Sep 25 |
Charlotte Hornets Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Mason Plumlee, C | Out | Dec 25 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner, C | Out | Dec 25 |
| Grant Williams, F | Out | Dec 13 |
Game Information
Location: New Orleans, LA
Attendance: 15,555 · Capacity:
2025-26 Southeast Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Orlando |
17 | 13 | .567 | - | W1 |
 Miami |
15 | 15 | .500 | 2 | L3 |
 Atlanta |
15 | 16 | .484 | 2.5 | L4 |
 Charlotte |
10 | 20 | .333 | 7 | W1 |
 Washington |
5 | 23 | .179 | 11 | L2 |
2025-26 Southwest Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Antonio |
23 | 7 | .767 | - | W8 |
 Houston |
18 | 10 | .643 | 4 | W1 |
 Memphis |
14 | 16 | .467 | 9 | W1 |
 Dallas |
12 | 20 | .375 | 12 | L1 |
 New Orleans |
8 | 23 | .258 | 15.5 | L1 |
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