Overview
- The Pelicans beat the Hornets 116-112 after Alvarado’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining capped an 11-0 closing burst.
- Rookie Derik Queen sealed the result with his fourth steal before Trey Murphy III added two free throws, finishing with a team-high 21 points.
- New Orleans improved to 1-6 after starting 0-6, leaving the Brooklyn Nets as the NBA’s only winless team.
- Bench contributors Alvarado (18 points), Saddiq Bey (17), Queen (12) and Karlo Matkovic helped power a 62-point output from the reserves.
- Charlotte fell to 3-5, went scoreless over the final 3:21 without LaMelo Ball, and got a first career double-double from rookie Kon Knueppel with 20 points and 12 rebounds.