New Orleans Pelicans Cruise to Victory Against Washington Wizards to Pick Up 21st Win of the Season

Jacob Perrine
New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens (11) dunks against Washington Wizards forward Julian Reese (15) during the second half.

In the battle of the tanking teams, the New Orleans Pelicans got the better of the Washington Wizards, as they rode to an easy 138-118 win on Sunday night to take home just their 21st win of the 2025-25 NBA season.

Saddiq Bey and Trey Murphy III Lead the Way on Offense in Pelicans Win

It was a total team effort for New Orleans in their win tonight, as over 6 players finished in double figures in the game. The two biggest contributors to the win for the Pelicans came from Saddiq Bey and Trey Murphy III, who were both instrumental in lifting New Orleans to victory. Bey would finish with a solid double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Murphy III had an efficient scoring night as he dropped a game-high 24 points on 7 for 14 shooting from the field.

While the Pelicans would struggle mightily from beyond the arc, as they only shot 30% from the three-point line, their dominance in the paint would make up for the lack of three-point field goals. New Orleans would outscore Washington 72 to 44 from close range in the win. The Pelicans would also use the fast break to tack on some easy points, as they would score 22 points in transition, while also adding in 26 points off of the Wizards’ 17 turnovers in the game.

The bench mob for the Pelicans would also join in on the action on offense, as both of New Orleans’ sensational rookies would lead the charge there. Both Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears would combine for 31 points off the bench, with Queen scoring 13 points and Fears scoring 18 points. The Pelicans’ second unit would serve as a key factor in the win, as they scored a total of 48 points in the game.

Young Shines in His Second Game with the Wizards

Despite being limited to just 18 minutes in the game tonight, it was another impressive outing for All-Star guard Trae Young in his second game with the Wizards this season. Young would finish with a near double-double of 17 points and 8 assists before being benched at halftime due to being on a minute’s restriction. Young has been solid in his first two games with Washington, as he’s averaging 12 points and 6 assists per game in his limited appearances.

The Wizards also quietly received some reinforcements prior to tonight’s game, as second-year center Alex Sarr made his return for Washington after missing a month of action due to a hamstring injury. Sarr was also placed on a minute’s restriction for this game, as he only played 18 minutes, where he finished with 7 points and 4 rebounds in the loss. While it is unclear how long the Wizards will keep Sarr and Young under a minute’s restriction, their time on the court together this season could prove beneficial heading into the offseason and next year.

Washington also received a good amount of production from a variety of players despite the loss, as 6 players finished in double digits in the game. Although all eyes were on the play of Young and the return of Sarr, the Wizards’ offense was primarily led on offense by rookie sharpshooter Tre Johnson. The former Texas Longhorn had a quality outing on that end of the floor, as he knocked down 4 triples to finish with a team-high 20 points in the loss.

Wizards Maintain Draft Lottery Position with Latest Loss

One of the bigger question marks surrounding the return of Trae Young this season was whether the All-Star guard could hurt the Wizards’ position in the draft lottery. However, through the first two games, Washington remains right in line to snag a nice position come June. Of course, it also helps to face off against a Pelicans team that currently has no incentive to tank, considering they don’t own a first-round draft pick this year.

While some critics of the Trae Young trade may use this lack of winning to start his Wizards tenure as a sign that the acquisition doesn’t move the needle for the franchise, Washington is still looking to build a more stable long-term future beyond this season. If Young can continue to gel and get back to his All-Star form, and the Wizards can land one of the many highly touted prospects in this year’s loaded draft class, the long-term future may finally pan out for the franchise.