New Orleans Pelicans: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Pelicans news: James Borrego drops ‘gold coins’ take on Zion Williamson’s role

James Borrego’s New Orleans Pelicans are experimenting with an unconventional approach to managing a years-long headache, and the early returns suggest it might be working.

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Pelicans ride rare winning streak, Pacers on downturn ahead of meeting

The host New Orleans Pelicans and the Indiana Pacers meet on Saturday riding opposite trajectories over their last three games. The Pelicans want to build on their longest winning streak of the season, currently at three games, when they welcome the Pacers for the first matchup between the teams this season.

James Borrego News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 19

Pelicans get one-month report card from James Borrego amid winning streak

The New Orleans Pelicans are finally finding their rhythm, capping off a pivotal stretch with a three-game winning streak that has injected new life into the team.

Cooper Flagg News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Youngest 40-point NBA games' quiz

How many of the NBA players to score at least 40 points in a game before turning 21 years old can you name in six minutes?

The 'NBA's youngest 35-point scorers' quiz

The 'Most points in an NBA Christmas Day game' quiz

The 'NBA 10-block triple-doubles' quiz

NBA News / Total Apex Sports / December 19

Pelicans Pull Off Historic Comeback to Stun Rockets in Overtime Thriller 133-128

When the halftime buzzer sounded at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday night, the mood in the building was heavy. The New Orleans Pelicans were down by 22 points, staring at what looked like another forgettable loss in a season already defined by struggle.

NBA News / Yardbarker

Which NBA teams have the best Christmas Day records?

Christmas and the NBA go hand-in-hand. The day serves for the top hoops league in the world, like Thanksgiving for the NFL. However, while the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are perpetual Thanksgiving participants, the NBA has mixed up the matchups and the teams throughout the years.

James Borrego News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 18

James Borrego shares non-negotiables for Pelicans amid Play-In push

The New Orleans Pelicans are focused less on the standings and more on a set of standards going into the holidays. Zion Williamson and Derik Queen are starting to click, leading to a three-game winning streak in the process.

NBA News / Field Level Media / December 18

Pelicans match franchise's biggest comeback, down Rockets in OT

Saddiq Bey scored 29 points, Trey Murphy III added 27 and the New Orleans Pelicans completed a franchise-record-tying comeback to beat the visiting Houston Rockets 133-128 in overtime on Thursday.

NBA News / Yardbarker / December 18

Rockets' second-half collapse to Pels leads to third loss in four games

Rockets' second-half collapse to lowly Pelicans leads to third loss in four games

Houston led New Orleans by as many as 25 points in the second half.

Jordan Poole takes high road after fan mentions Draymond Green incident

The 25 most notable NBA first-round draft mistakes

The 'Most points in an NBA Cup game' quiz

Jeremiah Fears News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 18

Pelicans praise ‘mature’ Jeremiah Fears after impressive start to NBA career

Rookies often face a steep learning curve, but the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans might have found the most keeled ‘kid’ in the 2025 NBA Draft. James Borrego’s assessments of Jeremiah Fears after 27 games sound less like a coach managing a developmental curve and more like one describing a player already comfortable with responsibility.

Herbert Jones News / Hoops Wire / December 18

Lakers seeking perimeter defense, eye Pelicans’ Herbert Jones

The Lakers are winning, but they are still looking. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Los Angeles is actively monitoring the trade market for a defensive wing upgrade, and Pelicans forward Herbert Jones has emerged as a name high on the internal wish list.

Tom Benson News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / December 18

'Do Something': How Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson Defines Off-Court Success

BATON ROUGE, La. — Gayle Benson shared the same wondrous look as the dozens of elementary-age kids lined along the bleachers to her right. Sitting front row, Benson turned in her chair as the gym partition at the A.C.

James Borrego News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 18

James Borrego’s Pelicans need four-layer fix for atrocious defense

The numbers are ugly, the film is worse, and the results are sinking a season of promise. Zion Williamson’s prideful New Orleans Pelicans know their defense has been a glaring, season-long vulnerability, a leaky dam threatening to wash away any NBA Play-In Tournament aspirations.

New Orleans Pelicans News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 18

Pelicans will not ‘force’ Jordan Poole role amid Zion Williamson return

The New Orleans Pelicans face a delicate balancing act as they welcome back key players from injury, with interim head coach James Borrego making it clear that the team won’t rush anyone into uncomfortable rotations.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Most multi-rushing-TD NFL games' quiz

The 'NFL's active TD-catch leaders' quiz

The 'Youngest 40-point NBA games' quiz

The 'Active NFL 5-passing-TD games' quiz

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / December 18

3 Pelicans Are Reportedly Attracting Interest on the Trade Market

With the 2025-2026 NBA trade season unofficially open as of December 15th, the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a position they didn’t expect: the center of a league-wide bidding war.

Zion Williamson News / NBA on ClutchPoints / December 18

Lou Williams declares Pelicans star Zion Williamson’s window ‘closed’

Zion Williamson’s career has been incredibly frustrating for fans to follow. The first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson was drafted with the potential to be an all-time great.

NBA News / Field Level Media / December 17

Pelicans enjoying rare rise with defensive-minded Rockets on horizon

The New Orleans Pelicans, last in the Western Conference, seek their first three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / December 17

NBA Notes: Pelicans, Jordan Poole, Spurs, Dylan Harper, Nuggets

Jordan Poole is back, and the Pelicans are suddenly winning games. New Orleans has gone 2-0 since Poole returned from a quad strain after missing 18 games, the longest injury absence of his career.

NBA News / Larry Brown Sports / December 17

Jordan Poole takes high road after fan mentions Draymond Green incident

It has been three years since the infamous altercation between former teammates Jordan Poole and Draymond Green during the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 training camp, but the issue hasn’t completely gone away.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / December 16

Derik Queen's Brilliance Shouldn't Overshadow Jeremiah Fears' Impressive Rookie Campaign

Derik Queen has understandably stolen all the headlines in New Orleans through the first two months of the season. He has become an instant fan favorite with his play style reminiscent of Nikola Jokic, showcasing impressive footwork, dishing dimes all over the floor, and beasting defenders off the dribble and in the post.

Jeremiah Fears News / NBA Draft on SI / December 15

Jeremiah Fears Continues to Be a Rookie Standout in Win vs. Bulls

The New Orleans Pelicans have one of the weirdest situations in the NBA right now. You'd think that a 5-22 record would warrant a rebuild and a push to land a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Zion Williamson News / Hoops Wire / December 15

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson delivers off bench in first game back: ‘Felt pretty good’

Zion Williamson returned to action Sunday in an unfamiliar role, coming off the bench for the first time in his NBA career as the Pelicans managed his minutes following a right hip adductor strain.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Hoops Wire / December 13

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson could make early return, suit up Sunday

Zion Williamson is suddenly back in the picture, and sooner than almost anyone expected. Pelicans coach James Borrego said Williamson practiced Saturday and will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Chicago, according to Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com.

Jose Alvarado News / Yardbarker / December 15

Why Knicks’ interest in Jose Alvarado makes perfect sense

This move would maintain, and even improve, roster balance and financial discipline, while finally solving a problem that has lingered behind Jalen Brunson for years.

Jalen Brunson's monster night leads Knicks to NBA Cup final

Another team could join Knicks in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo

Knicks' best and worst Giannis Antetokounmpo trade scenarios

Who is the most-iconic player for every NBA franchise?

The 'Most 40-point NBA games since the merger' quiz

New Orleans Pelicans News / NBA Draft on SI / December 12

Pelicans' Rookies Offering Hope of a Bright Future with Hot Start

On Thursday night, the New Orleans Pelicans rookies continued the transcendent start to their debut seasons. In a 23-point win over the Trail Blazers, the team’s rookies in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen were again spectacular, which is quickly becoming par for the course for the New Orleans newbies.