Philadelphia 76ersOpen full analysis
New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 126–111 on February 21 at Smoothie King Center, with J. Poole and Zion Williamson combining for 44 points to lead the home team. New Orleans shot 49.4 percent from the field and made 17 three-pointers, controlling the tempo with 25 assists and a defensive rating of 104.2. Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey (27 points) and Keldon Oubre Jr. (25 points) couldn't overcome a sluggish offensive performance—the 76ers connected on just 38.3 percent of their attempts and made only 12 threes. The decisive third quarter proved pivotal, with New Orleans outscoring Philadelphia 40–26 to seize control after a competitive first half. Philadelphia's 10 turnovers and 19 total assists underscored their offensive struggles, while their defense allowed 123.9 points per 100 possessions. The game fell short of the Vegas total line of 235.5, suggesting both teams prioritized defensive execution down the stretch. The loss marks a concerning stretch for Philadelphia's road form heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
