Pelicans Bol To 2-0 Start In New Era
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2026 3:17 am
New Orleans' New Center Not Done Negating (Houston) Haters
Bol Bol came in scorching like the sun in his first two Pelicans games
Previously in New Orleans news...
[quote}
In the Timberwolves' 111-104 win over those same exact Rockets, he himself took Player of the Game with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a block, bullying Jaxson Hayes into just 13 minutes of playing time due to foul trouble. Yes, that Hayes, once considered one of the up and coming young bigs in the league before he failed to ever average 10 points or 10 rebounds in a single season.
-Re: Bol Bol's second-to-last game as a Timberwolf, following Houston GM KW's comments that New Orleans paid a 1st to downgrade from Jaren Jackson Jr to Bol Bol - or, from JJJ to BB[/quote]
In fact, Bol Bol's final two games in Minnesota were both against Houston.
As fate would have it, Bol Bol's first game as a Pelican? On the road, in Houston. For the second straight game against the Rockets, he was Player of the Game, putting up 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 blocks, again holding Jackson Hayes to limited playing time with 24 minutes in the Pelicans' 119-109 win. Poku was ever-present on the stat sheet with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal, and a block, Isaiah Quickley posted a rare in NO 14 point, 11 assist, 2 steal, and a block double-double, Jayson Tatum did his thing with 21 points, and the newly configured second unit put up its best collective +/- of the season. Savion Flagg scored 15 points with a steal, all 7 of his shots behind the arc, with 5 going in. Theo Maledon looked comfortable in his own Pelicans debut, going 5/9, 2/5 behind the arc for 12 points.
But the news came back after the game: Poku out with a strained abdomen.
And there was a game the next night in New Orleans vs. Denver. The Nuggets have been incredibly streaky so far in the early part of the CSL season, and an emergency jury-rigged lineup was shoved in. No problems, though, as the Pelicans never looked like losing in cruising to an easier than the scoreline indicated 114-101 win. Bol Bol won his third straight Player of the Game award with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 27 minutes, Jayson Tatum matching him for the scoring lead with 26 and a steal, and IQ putting up his second straight-double with 24 points, 14 assists, and a block. Cool Oso Ighodaro stat: He put up a 4x6 line of 6 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 blocks. Pacing the bench were Olivier-Maxence Prosper with 12 points and a steal, Savion Flagg with yet another double-digit scoring of 10 points and a steal off the bench.
But another injury afterwards: OMP hobbled with a shoulder injury.
Three straight games against Houston for Bol Bol. 2-1 overall (the second Minnesota game was a narrow 132-137 barnburner).
And the next game? Against Houston in New Orleans.
Rockets fans are going to get real tired of seeing him, it seems.
But Game #4 of the Rocket Bol series will have the wrinkle of Houston's total revamp, including some fascinating storylines:
1. Scotty Pippen Jr's return to New Orleans
2. Round 4 of Bol vs. Hayes (maybe)
3. M.J. Walker's return debut in a Rockets uniform
Commented one reporter:
"There's been a lot of tension between these two organizations: The Cam Reddish trade that saw him return to Houston that summer, The Rockets' coveting Oso Ighodaro and New Orleans' refusal to ever trade him, the criticism of the Bol Bol trade that led to one guy's personal vendetta against an entire franchise... That tension doesn't stop trade talks happening between the two front offices, though. Things are just a little bit spicy at the moment, is all."
With the two victories, the Pelicans have flown back up into first place in the West's most competitive division at 13-8, a game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks, 1.5 ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, 3.5 up on the San Antonio Spurs, and a 6-game lead on Houston.
Bol Bol came in scorching like the sun in his first two Pelicans games
Previously in New Orleans news...
[quote}
In the Timberwolves' 111-104 win over those same exact Rockets, he himself took Player of the Game with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a block, bullying Jaxson Hayes into just 13 minutes of playing time due to foul trouble. Yes, that Hayes, once considered one of the up and coming young bigs in the league before he failed to ever average 10 points or 10 rebounds in a single season.
-Re: Bol Bol's second-to-last game as a Timberwolf, following Houston GM KW's comments that New Orleans paid a 1st to downgrade from Jaren Jackson Jr to Bol Bol - or, from JJJ to BB[/quote]
In fact, Bol Bol's final two games in Minnesota were both against Houston.
As fate would have it, Bol Bol's first game as a Pelican? On the road, in Houston. For the second straight game against the Rockets, he was Player of the Game, putting up 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 blocks, again holding Jackson Hayes to limited playing time with 24 minutes in the Pelicans' 119-109 win. Poku was ever-present on the stat sheet with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal, and a block, Isaiah Quickley posted a rare in NO 14 point, 11 assist, 2 steal, and a block double-double, Jayson Tatum did his thing with 21 points, and the newly configured second unit put up its best collective +/- of the season. Savion Flagg scored 15 points with a steal, all 7 of his shots behind the arc, with 5 going in. Theo Maledon looked comfortable in his own Pelicans debut, going 5/9, 2/5 behind the arc for 12 points.
But the news came back after the game: Poku out with a strained abdomen.
And there was a game the next night in New Orleans vs. Denver. The Nuggets have been incredibly streaky so far in the early part of the CSL season, and an emergency jury-rigged lineup was shoved in. No problems, though, as the Pelicans never looked like losing in cruising to an easier than the scoreline indicated 114-101 win. Bol Bol won his third straight Player of the Game award with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 27 minutes, Jayson Tatum matching him for the scoring lead with 26 and a steal, and IQ putting up his second straight-double with 24 points, 14 assists, and a block. Cool Oso Ighodaro stat: He put up a 4x6 line of 6 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 blocks. Pacing the bench were Olivier-Maxence Prosper with 12 points and a steal, Savion Flagg with yet another double-digit scoring of 10 points and a steal off the bench.
But another injury afterwards: OMP hobbled with a shoulder injury.
Three straight games against Houston for Bol Bol. 2-1 overall (the second Minnesota game was a narrow 132-137 barnburner).
And the next game? Against Houston in New Orleans.
Rockets fans are going to get real tired of seeing him, it seems.
But Game #4 of the Rocket Bol series will have the wrinkle of Houston's total revamp, including some fascinating storylines:
1. Scotty Pippen Jr's return to New Orleans
2. Round 4 of Bol vs. Hayes (maybe)
3. M.J. Walker's return debut in a Rockets uniform
Commented one reporter:
"There's been a lot of tension between these two organizations: The Cam Reddish trade that saw him return to Houston that summer, The Rockets' coveting Oso Ighodaro and New Orleans' refusal to ever trade him, the criticism of the Bol Bol trade that led to one guy's personal vendetta against an entire franchise... That tension doesn't stop trade talks happening between the two front offices, though. Things are just a little bit spicy at the moment, is all."
With the two victories, the Pelicans have flown back up into first place in the West's most competitive division at 13-8, a game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks, 1.5 ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, 3.5 up on the San Antonio Spurs, and a 6-game lead on Houston.