2023–24 New Orleans Pelicans season

The 2023–24 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 22nd season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence defeating the Sacramento Kings in the second game of the NBA play-in tournament after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first game. However, they were swept in the first round by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

2023–24 New Orleans Pelicans season
Head coachWillie Green
General managerTrajan Langdon
Owner(s)Gayle Benson
ArenaSmoothie King Center
Results
Record49–33 (.598)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Southwest)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(lost to Thunder 0–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionBally Sports New Orleans
Gray Television[a] (10 games)
RadioWRNO-FM
< 2022–23 2024–25 >

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege / Club
114Jordan HawkinsSG  United StatesUConn (So.)

The Pelicans had one first-round pick entering the draft.[1]

Roster

2023–24 New Orleans Pelicans roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G15Alvarado, Jose6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)179 lb (81 kg)1998-04-12Georgia Tech
G11Daniels, Dyson6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)199 lb (90 kg)2003-03-17Australia
G24Hawkins, Jordan6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg)2002-04-29Connecticut
F33Hill, Malcolm (TW)6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg)1995-10-26Illinois
F14Ingram, Brandon6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)190 lb (86 kg)1997-09-02Duke
F5Jones, Herbert6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)206 lb (93 kg)1998-10-06Alabama
F32Liddell, E. J.6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)240 lb (109 kg)2000-12-18Ohio State
F8Marshall, Naji6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg)1998-01-24Xavier
G3McCollum, CJ6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)1991-09-19Lehigh
F25Murphy, Trey III6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)206 lb (93 kg)2000-06-18Virginia
F/C22Nance, Larry Jr.6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)245 lb (111 kg)1993-01-01Wyoming
F/C50Robinson-Earl, Jeremiah6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)240 lb (109 kg)2000-11-03Villanova
F37Ryan, Matt6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg)1997-04-17Chattanooga
G0Seabron, Dereon (TW)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)180 lb (82 kg)2000-05-26NC State
C17Valančiūnas, Jonas6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)265 lb (120 kg)1992-05-06Lithuania
F1Williamson, Zion  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)284 lb (129 kg)2000-07-06Duke
F/C40Zeller, Cody6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)240 lb (109 kg)1992-10-05Indiana
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (GL) On assignment to G League
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 13, 2024

Standings

Division

Southwest DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
yDallas Mavericks5032.61025‍–‍1625‍–‍1611‍–‍582
xNew Orleans Pelicans4933.5981.021‍–‍1928‍–‍149‍–‍782
Houston Rockets4141.5009.027‍–‍1414‍–‍279‍–‍782
Memphis Grizzlies2755.32923.09‍–‍3218‍–‍238‍–‍882
San Antonio Spurs2260.26828.012‍–‍2910‍–‍313‍–‍1382

Conference

Western Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1cOklahoma City Thunder *5725.69582
2xDenver Nuggets5725.69582
3xMinnesota Timberwolves5626.6831.082
4yLos Angeles Clippers *5131.6226.082
5yDallas Mavericks *5032.6107.082
6xPhoenix Suns4933.5988.082
7xNew Orleans Pelicans4933.5988.082
8xLos Angeles Lakers4735.57310.082
9piSacramento Kings4636.56111.082
10piGolden State Warriors4636.56111.082
11Houston Rockets4141.50016.082
12Utah Jazz3151.37826.082
13Memphis Grizzlies2755.32930.082
14San Antonio Spurs2260.26835.082
15Portland Trail Blazers2161.25636.082

Game log

Preseason

2023 preseason game log
Total: 1–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–1)
Preseason: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1October 10OrlandoL 105–122 Brandon Ingram (14)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)Zion Williamson (5)Smoothie King Center
16,058
0–1
2October 12HoustonL 87–120 CJ McCollum (17)Daniels, Ingram (5)Ingram, Lewis Jr., Valančiūnas (3)Legacy Arena
11,589
0–2
3October 14@ AtlantaL 105–110 Jordan Hawkins (17)Trey Jemison (9)Daniels, Williamson (5)Gateway Center Arena
3,051
0–3
4October 17@ OrlandoW 104–92 Brandon Ingram (18)Trey Jemison (9)Brandon Ingram (6)Amway Center
17,622
1–3
2023–24 preseason schedule

Regular season

2023–24 game log
Total: 49–33 (Home: 21–19; Road: 28–14)
October: 2–1 (home: 1–1; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1October 25@ MemphisW 111–104 CJ McCollum (24)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)Ingram, McCollum (6)FedExForum
17,798
1–0
2October 28New YorkW 96–87 Brandon Ingram (26)Brandon Ingram (7)CJ McCollum (7)Smoothie King Center
16,331
2–0
3October 30Golden StateL 102–130 McCollum, Williamson (19)McCollum, Valančiūnas (6)CJ McCollum (5)Smoothie King Center
17,286
2–1
November: 8–8 (home: 6–3; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
4November 1@ Oklahoma CityW 110–106 CJ McCollum (29)CJ McCollum (11)Zion Williamson (8)Paycom Center
15,764
3–1
5November 2DetroitW 125–116 CJ McCollum (33)Jonas Valančiūnas (13)Dyson Daniels (6)Smoothie King Center
15,884
4–1
6November 4AtlantaL 105–123 Zion Williamson (25)Ingram, Valančiūnas (7)CJ McCollum (6)Smoothie King Center
17,237
4–2
7November 6@ DenverL 116–134 Jordan Hawkins (31)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)Zion Williamson (9)Ball Arena
19,544
4–3
8November 8@ MinnesotaL 101–122 Brandon Ingram (24)Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (9)Ingram, Zeller (6)Target Center
18,024
4–4
9November 10@ HoustonL 101–104 Brandon Ingram (31)Dyson Daniels (10)Brandon Ingram (5)Toyota Center
16,236
4–5
10November 12DallasL 124–136 Brandon Ingram (20)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)Brandon Ingram (5)Smoothie King Center
16,302
4–6
11November 14DallasW 131–110 Hawkins, Ingram (25)Brandon Ingram (9)Brandon Ingram (7)Smoothie King Center
16,354
5–6
12November 17DenverW 115–110 Zion Williamson (26)Daniels, Valančiūnas (8)Brandon Ingram (8)Smoothie King Center
15,278
6–6
13November 18MinnesotaL 120–121 Brandon Ingram (30)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)Herbert Jones (8)Smoothie King Center
15,536
6–7
14November 20SacramentoW 129–93 Brandon Ingram (31)Jonas Valančiūnas (13)Jonas Valančiūnas (7)Smoothie King Center
16,004
7–7
15November 22SacramentoW 117–112 Zion Williamson (25)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)Zion Williamson (6)Smoothie King Center
16,012
8–7
16November 24@ L.A. ClippersW 116–106 Zion Williamson (32)Daniels, Marshall, Valančiūnas (8)Daniels, Ingram, Williamson (5)Crypto.com Arena
19,370
9–7
17November 25@ UtahL 100–105 Brandon Ingram (26)Jonas Valančiūnas (7)Brandon Ingram (8)Delta Center
18,206
9–8
18November 27@ UtahL 112–114 Zion Williamson (26)Jonas Valančiūnas (13)Zion Williamson (7)Delta Center
18,206
9–9
19November 29PhiladelphiaW 124–114 Zion Williamson (33)Zion Williamson (8)Ingram, Jones, Williamson (6)Smoothie King Center
16,009
10–9
December: 9–5 (home: 4–3; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
20December 1San AntonioW 121–106 Jonas Valančiūnas (24)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)CJ McCollum (8)Smoothie King Center
17,028
11–9
21December 2@ ChicagoL 118–124 Zion Williamson (27)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)Brandon Ingram (6)United Center
20,511
11–10
22December 4@ SacramentoW 127–117 Brandon Ingram (30)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)CJ McCollum (7)Golden 1 Center
18,048
12–10
23December 7@ L.A. LakersL 89–133 Trey Murphy III (14)Dyson Daniels (8)Brandon Ingram (7)T-Mobile Arena
18,017
12–11
24December 11MinnesotaW 121–107 Zion Williamson (36)Jonas Valančiūnas (13)Ingram, Jones (5)Smoothie King Center
16,487
13–11
25December 13@ WashingtonW 142–122 Brandon Ingram (40)Jonas Valančiūnas (18)Naji Marshall (7)Capital One Arena
14,080
14–11
26December 15@ CharlotteW 112–107 Jonas Valančiūnas (29)Jonas Valančiūnas (13)Brandon Ingram (7)Spectrum Center
16,080
15–11
27December 17@ San AntonioW 146–110 CJ McCollum (29)Jonas Valančiūnas (15)Naji Marshall (7)Frost Bank Center
18,354
16–11
28December 19MemphisL 113–115 Brandon Ingram (34)Jonas Valančiūnas (14)Ingram, McCollum (6)Smoothie King Center
18,355
16–12
29December 21@ ClevelandW 123–104 Trey Murphy III (28)Ingram, Valančiūnas (7)Brandon Ingram (6)Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
19,432
17–12
30December 23HoustonL 104–106 Zion Williamson (28)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)Ingram, Valančiūnas (5)Smoothie King Center
17,399
17–13
31December 26MemphisL 115–116 (OT)Brandon Ingram (24)Jonas Valančiūnas (13)Brandon Ingram (7)Smoothie King Center
18,538
17–14
32December 28UtahW 112–105 Brandon Ingram (26)Zion Williamson (10)Zion Williamson (8)Smoothie King Center
17,753
18–14
33December 31L.A. LakersW 129–109 Ingram, Williamson (26)Larry Nance Jr. (10)CJ McCollum (9)Smoothie King Center
18,434
19–14
January: 8–7 (home: 3–3; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
34January 2BrooklynW 112–85 CJ McCollum (16)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)Ingram, McCollum, Williamson (5)Smoothie King Center
16,253
20–14
35January 3@ MinnesotaW 117–106 Zion Williamson (27)Larry Nance Jr. (9)Brandon Ingram (7)Target Center
18,024
21–14
36January 5L.A. ClippersL 95–111 Hawkins, Valančiūnas (13)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)Brandon Ingram (4)Smoothie King Center
18,329
21–15
37January 7@ SacramentoW 133–100 CJ McCollum (30)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)Brandon Ingram (8)Golden 1 Center
17,832
22–15
38January 10@ Golden StateW 141–105 Jonas Valančiūnas (21)Jonas Valančiūnas (9)CJ McCollum (8)Chase Center
18,064
23–15
39January 12@ DenverW 125–113 Zion Williamson (30)Valančiūnas, Williamson (6)CJ McCollum (7)Ball Arena
19,638
23–16
40January 13@ DallasW 118–108 Jordan Hawkins (34)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)Daniels, Valančiūnas (7)American Airlines Center
20,155
24–16
41January 15@ DallasL 120–125 Zion Williamson (30)Larry Nance Jr. (8)Brandon Ingram (5)American Airlines Center
20,010
24–17
42January 17CharlotteW 132–112 Brandon Ingram (28)Brandon Ingram (10)Brandon Ingram (10)Smoothie King Center
16,093
25–17
43January 19PhoenixL 109–123 Zion Williamson (24)Jonas Valančiūnas (11)Brandon Ingram (11)Smoothie King Center
18,686
25–18
44January 23UtahW 153–124 CJ McCollum (33)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)Zion Williamson (11)Smoothie King Center
16,032
26–18
45January 26Oklahoma CityL 83–107 Jones, Valančiūnas (14)Jonas Valančiūnas (9)Brandon Ingram (9)Smoothie King Center
18,624
26–19
46January 27@ MilwaukeeL 117–141 Brandon Ingram (26)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)Jonas Valančiūnas (6)Fiserv Forum
17,940
26–20
47January 29@ BostonL 112–118 Brandon Ingram (28)Ingram, Valančiūnas (7)Brandon Ingram (6)TD Garden
19,156
26–21
48January 31@ HoustonW 110–99 Jonas Valančiūnas (25)Jonas Valančiūnas (14)Brandon Ingram (4)Toyota Center
18,055
27–21
February: 8–4 (home: 3–2; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
49February 2@ San AntonioW 114–113 Zion Williamson (33)Jonas Valančiūnas (9)Brandon Ingram (6)Frost Bank Center
17,207
28–21
50February 5TorontoW 138–100 Brandon Ingram (41)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)Brandon Ingram (9)Smoothie King Center
17,429
29–21
51February 7@ L.A. ClippersW 117–106 CJ McCollum (25)Brandon Ingram (8)Zion Williamson (10)Crypto.com Arena
19,370
30–21
52February 9@ L.A. LakersL 122–139 Zion Williamson (30)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)Brandon Ingram (7)Crypto.com Arena
18,997
30–22
53February 10@ PortlandW 93–84 Trey Murphy III (24)Jonas Valančiūnas (9)Brandon Ingram (9)Moda Center
18,226
31–22
54February 12@ MemphisW 96–87 Herbert Jones (17)Jones, Nance Jr. (9)Brandon Ingram (6)FedExForum
15,823
32–22
55February 14WashingtonW 133–126 Zion Williamson (36)Jones, Nance Jr., Williamson (6)Ingram, Williamson (8)Smoothie King Center
18,316
33–22
All-Star Game
56February 22HoustonW 127–105 CJ McCollum (28)Jonas Valančiūnas (14)Zion Williamson (10)Smoothie King Center
17,421
34–22
57February 23MiamiL 95–106 Zion Williamson (23)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)Zion Williamson (7)Smoothie King Center
18,658
34–23
58February 25ChicagoL 106–114 Brandon Ingram (22)Jonas Valančiūnas (17)Zion Williamson (11)Smoothie King Center
18,684
34–24
59February 27@ New YorkW 115–92 Trey Murphy III (26)Jonas Valančiūnas (9)Brandon Ingram (5)Madison Square Garden
19,812
35–24
60February 28@ IndianaL 114–123 Brandon Ingram (30)Naji Marshall (8)Trey Murphy III (7)Gainbridge Fieldhouse
16,010
35–25
March: 10–4 (home: 4–3; road: 6–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
61March 1IndianaW 129–102 Brandon Ingram (34)Jonas Valančiūnas (9)Zion Williamson (7)Smoothie King Center
17,898
36–25
62March 5@ TorontoW 139–98 Trey Murphy III (34)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)Zion Williamson (9)Scotiabank Arena
18,864
37–25
63March 8@ PhiladelphiaW 103–95 Zion Williamson (23)Zion Williamson (12)Brandon Ingram (5)Wells Fargo Center
19,777
38–25
64March 10@ AtlantaW 116–103 Trey Murphy III (28)Jonas Valančiūnas (9)Brandon Ingram (10)State Farm Arena
17,695
39–25
65March 13ClevelandL 95–116 Zion Williamson (33)Zion Williamson (9)Brandon Ingram (5)Smoothie King Center
17,727
39–26
66March 15L.A. ClippersW 112–104 Zion Williamson (34)Zion Williamson (7)Brandon Ingram (7)Smoothie King Center
18,865
40–26
67March 16PortlandW 126–107 CJ McCollum (30)Zion Williamson (10)CJ McCollum (8)Smoothie King Center
17,725
41–26
68March 19@ BrooklynW 104–91 Zion Williamson (28)Larry Nance Jr. (10)Brandon Ingram (6)Barclays Center
17,732
42–26
69March 21@ OrlandoL 106–121 Trey Murphy III (21)Zion Williamson (7)Herbert Jones (5)Kia Center
17,094
42–27
70March 22@ MiamiW 111–88 CJ McCollum (30)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)CJ McCollum (7)Kaseya Center
19,727
43–27
71March 24@ DetroitW 114–101 Zion Williamson (36)Marshall, Murphy III (8)CJ McCollum (7)Little Caesars Arena
19,922
44–27
72March 26Oklahoma CityL 112–119 Zion Williamson (29)McCollum, Murphy III, Valančiūnas (6)Zion Williamson (10)Smoothie King Center
17,436
44–28
73March 28MilwaukeeW 107–100 Zion Williamson (28)Trey Murphy III (11)CJ McCollum (7)Smoothie King Center
17,484
45–28
74March 30BostonL 92–104 Zion Williamson (25)Williamson, Murphy III (9)CJ McCollum (5)Smoothie King Center
17,932
45–29
April: 4–4 (home: 0–4; road: 4–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
75April 1PhoenixL 111–124 Zion Williamson (30)Daniels, Nance Jr., Valančiūnas (7)CJ McCollum (9)Smoothie King Center
17,753
45–30
76April 3OrlandoL 108–117 CJ McCollum (36)CJ McCollum (10)Zion Williamson (5)Smoothie King Center
16,427
45–31
77April 5San AntonioL 109–111 CJ McCollum (31)Trey Murphy III (8)Jonas Valančiūnas (7)Smoothie King Center
17,422
45–32
78April 7@ PhoenixW 113–105 CJ McCollum (31)Zion Williamson (10)Nance Jr., Williamson (7)Footprint Center
17,071
46–32
79April 9@ PortlandW 110–100 Trey Murphy III (31)Murphy III, Valančiūnas (8)Daniels, Valančiūnas (5)Moda Center
18,341
47–32
80April 11@ SacramentoW 135–123 McCollum, Williamson (31)Jonas Valančiūnas (10)CJ McCollum (7)Golden 1 Center
17,832
48–32
81April 12@ Golden StateW 114–109 CJ McCollum (28)Daniels, Murphy III (8)Dyson Daniels (7)Chase Center
18,064
49–32
82April 14L.A. LakersL 108–124 CJ McCollum (25)Zion Williamson (8)Zion Williamson (8)Smoothie King Center
18,633
49–33
2023–24 season schedule

Play-in

2024 play-in game log
Total: 1–1 (home: 1–1; road: 0–0)
Play-in: 1–1 (home: 1–1; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1April 16L.A. LakersL 106–110 Zion Williamson (40)Larry Nance Jr. (12)Jose Alvarado (7)Smoothie King Center
18,591
0–1
2April 19SacramentoW 105–98 Brandon Ingram (24)Jonas Valančiūnas (12)Ingram, Murphy III (6)Smoothie King Center
18,656
1–1
2023–24 season schedule

Playoffs

2024 playoff game log
Total: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
First Round: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 21@ Oklahoma CityL 92–94 Trey Murphy III (21)Jonas Valančiūnas (20)CJ McCollum (6)Paycom Center
18,203
0–1
2April 24@ Oklahoma CityL 92–124 Jonas Valančiūnas (19)Jonas Valančiūnas (7)CJ McCollum (4)Paycom Center
18,203
0–2
3April 27Oklahoma CityL 85–106 Brandon Ingram (19)Larry Nance Jr. (13)CJ McCollum (7)Smoothie King Center
18,659
0–3
4April 29Oklahoma CityL 89–97 CJ McCollum (20)Jonas Valančiūnas (13)Brandon Ingram (6)Smoothie King Center
18,487
0–4
2024 playoff schedule

In-Season Tournament

This will be the first regular season where all the NBA teams will compete in a mid-season tournament setting due to the implementation of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.[2][3] During the in-season tournament period, the Pelicans will compete in Group B of the Western Conference, which will include the defending champion Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Houston Rockets. Despite having a couple of scares by not only losing to the Houston Rockets and barely not scoring enough points to overtake the Phoenix Suns for the wild card spot had it been deemed necessary, the Pelicans ultimately managed to secure Group B's top seed for the in-season tournament. In the first knockout round, the Pelicans beat the winners of Group C, the Sacramento Kings, by a final score of 127-117 on the road. Tragically, during that night, a 34-year-old Kings fan named Gregorio "Greg" Florez Breedlove had a medical emergency during the first quarter of that game and died 20 minutes after emergency medical services arrived to try and help him out.[4][5] For their semifinal game that also counted as their 82nd game of the regular season, their opponent was the Los Angeles Lakers, who were considered the home team in the neutral site of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada due to their record in the In-Season Tournament. The Pelicans would suffer a brutal, crushing defeat to the Lakers in their December 7 match-up, with the Lakers winning 133-89 that night.

West group B

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDQualificationNOPHOUDALDENLAC
1New Orleans Pelicans431463430+33Advance to knockout stage101–104131–110115–110116–106
2Houston Rockets42[b]2424414+10104–101115–121105–86100–106
3Dallas Mavericks42[b]2489497−8110–131121–115114–125144–126
4Denver Nuggets42[b]2432442−10110–11586–105125–114111–108
5Los Angeles Clippers413446471−25106–116106–100126–144108–111
Source: NBA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:

Transactions

Free agency

Subtractions

PlayerReasonNew TeamRef.
Josh RichardsonFree agentMiami Heat[6]
Garrett TempleWaivedToronto Raptors[7]

References