New Orleans Pelicans Complete Historic 2-0 Sweep in First NBA Australia Tour

The New Orleans Pelicans completed a 2-0 sweep of Australian rivals in their historic pre-season NBLxNBA series, marking the first time an NBA team has played in Australia. NBA star Zion Williamson, playing limited minutes, was pivotal on defense, contributing eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks as the Pelicans dominated South East Melbourne Phoenix 127-92 at Rod Laver Arena. Fellow starters Saddiq Bey, Jordan Poole, and Jeremiah Fears also made significant scoring contributions, helping New Orleans surge early and maintain control throughout the game. South East Melbourne's Jordan Hunter, Nathan Sobey, and Akech Aliir led their team’s scoring efforts, while NBL Next Star Malique Lewis showed promise despite mixed results in his first game against NBA competition. A notable setback for the Pelicans was guard Jose Alvarado's right knee injury, which forced him to leave in the third quarter. The Pelicans' dominant shooting, including a 45% three-point percentage in the first half, and highlight-reel plays like a half-court alley-oop from Poole to Matkovic, underscored their clear superiority in the series.