Jordan Poole’s Return Ignites Pelicans; Flagg Sets Age-Scoring Mark, Wembanyama Plays After Family Loss
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New Orleans has stopped its early-season slide, winning two straight after guard Jordan Poole came back from a quad strain that sidelined him for 18 games. The Pelicans, who had dropped 22 of their first 25 contests, beat Portland last Thursday and Chicago on Sunday with Poole contributing a combined 38 points and seven assists off the bench.
“No matter what treatment I did, the injury just needed time,” Poole said of his longest NBA absence. “I was doing 24-hour recovery work so that when I came back, I’d be able to make an impact.”
In Poole’s 53 minutes across the two victories, New Orleans outscored opponents by 19. Interim head coach James Borrego called the 26-year-old “a savvy scorer” who can quickly swing a game. “He’s coming with the right mentality,” Borrego added. “He’s trying to play within our system and be a team guy, and that’s what we need.”
Southwest Division Notes
Dallas Mavericks: Top overall pick Cooper Flagg became the first 18-year-old in league history to reach the 40-point plateau, scoring 42 with seven rebounds and six assists in Monday’s overtime loss to Utah. The forward turns 19 on Sunday.
San Antonio Spurs: Center Victor Wembanyama suited up for Tuesday’s NBA Cup final against New York hours after learning of his grandmother’s passing. The 21-year-old answered two post-game questions before exiting the media session with a team staffer.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton noted recent history—Indiana reached the 2023 NBA Finals after losing that year’s Cup, and Oklahoma City won the 2024 title after a runner-up finish—as he examined whether the Cup run could foreshadow playoff success for San Antonio.
Rookie guard Dylan Harper said the Spurs see value in high-stakes games so early in the schedule. “Sky is the limit,” Harper remarked. “It’s our second game with a healthy roster. It’s a good learning experience, and we’ve got a whole lot of room to grow knowing what we’ve done up to this point.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
