Pelicans earn first win of season; Cavaliers stumble in Atlanta
New Orleans defeated Sacramento 132-120, while Atlanta edged out Cleveland 114-111 in a game highlighted by rookie Darius Acuff Jr.'s 34-point performance.
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The New Orleans Pelicans earned their first NBA victory of the season on Thursday with a 132-120 win over the Sacramento Kings, while the Cleveland Cavaliers fell 114-111 to the Atlanta Hawks in their second consecutive night of action.
In a matchup between two teams that had yet to win a game, New Orleans took advantage of Sacramento's visit to snap a four-game losing streak. The Kings, meanwhile, remained the only winless team in the Western Conference, with a 0-5 record.
Acuff Jr. Shines despite Sacramento's loss
The point guard Jeremiah Fears, 20, was one of the key players in the Pelicans' victory. With Dejounte Murray out—he missed the game due to the birth of his son—the young player stepped up and finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and four blocks.
Zion Williamson also contributed 22 points and six rebounds for the home team.
On the other side, the rookie Darius Acuff Jr. put on an outstanding individual performance with 34 points and 14 assists. The 19-year-old scored more than 30 points for the second time in his first five NBA games.
Acuff's performance stood in contrast to Domantas Sabonis's lackluster showing; he took just seven field goal attempts and finished the game with nine points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.
In addition, Sacramento's bench once again highlighted its offensive struggles: it contributed just eight points.
Mitchell misses two clutch three-pointers
Onyeka Okongwu had his best performance of the season so far with 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added another 20 points. The win allowed Atlanta to snap a three-game losing streak.
The outcome was decided in the final minute, after both teams squandered double-digit leads.
Donovan Mitchell, who scored 22 points, had two chances to tie the score on the final possession, but failed to convert either of his attempts from beyond the three-point line.
With the Hawks leading 114-111, Mitchell missed his first free throw with eight seconds left. However, Cleveland grabbed the rebound, and the shooting guard got a second chance.
Instead of looking for open teammates, including James Harden, who finished with 24 points, Mitchell moved to a corner and attempted another three-pointer that also missed the mark.
The Cavaliers, who had just defeated the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, now have a 3-2 record and are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
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