Pelicans, Hawks enter matchup with similarities / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports Credit Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks are both short-handed entering their game Sunday evening in Atlanta.

They're also both coming off impressive victories.

The Pelicans, who haven't had Zion Williamson all season because of a foot injury, played their sixth straight game without leading scorer Brandon Ingram when they routed the host San Antonio Spurs 124-91 on Friday night.

The Hawks played without their top two scorers, Trae Young and John Collins, in a 120-105 home victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

New Orleans strengthened its hold on 10th place in the Western Conference when it dominated the 11th-place Spurs.

"I feel like we're looking at every game for the rest of the season as big games," said Jaxson Hayes, who had 12 of his 16 points as the Pelicans took a 35-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. "They are all big games. We all just really locked in before shoot-around, before the game."

The Pelicans won for just the fourth time in 20 games missed by Ingram, who has been sidelined by a hamstring strain and stayed behind because of a non-COVID illness as the team began a three-game trip. It's unclear if Ingram will join the team in Atlanta or in Charlotte on Monday.

"It's the type of effort we want from all of our guys -- just come in, be solid, do your job and continue to trust in your teammates," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "Our guys did that wire to wire."

New Orleans set a franchise record for fewest points allowed in the first quarter and led by as many as 40 in the third quarter.

Young (bruised left quad) tested his injury before Friday's game before being ruled out and could be available Sunday, but Collins (foot) will miss at least another two weeks.

In their absence, third-leading scorer Bogdan Bogdanovich (14.2 points per game) scored a season-high 30 points, hitting five of six 3-pointers.

As Young's fill-in, Delon Wright added 18 points, six assists and five steals.

"I thought he was just solid," Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. "As I told him, he's a utility guy for us. What I mean by that, he could go from playing low minutes to starting. And if he can keep his mind on that type of role, I think it'll help us, and he's done that."

Wright made his first three shots, all 3-pointers, as he scored 11 points in the first quarter. He finished 7 of 11 on field goals, 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.

"I knew I was going to have some wide-open shots, the way they play and load up in the paint," Wright said. "I just wanted to stay patient and stay confident."

The Hawks forced 16 Grizzlies turnovers, leading to 24 points for Atlanta, and limited Memphis to 8 of 22 on 3-pointers.

"I thought we were solid, packing our paint and keeping the ball in front of us, making them score over the top of us, and we've talked about that all season long," McMillan said.

--Field Level Media

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