Pelicans need to get Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy more involved

The Pelicans have Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Finding enough shots for them shouldn’t be this difficult.

Yet the two combined for just 17 attempts in Friday’s 115-109 loss to the Timberwolves, ending a four-game winning streak and bringing a familiar offensive concern back into focus.

As David Grubb of Pelicans On SI noted⁠, New Orleans struggled to keep its primary scorers involved even while its half-court offense needed direction.

Williamson finished with 13 points on 10 attempts in 36 minutes. He took only three shots before halftime. Murphy scored 10 points on seven attempts.

Neither needs to force bad shots to satisfy a quota. But an offense that regularly leaves those two watching has some organizing to do.

Jeremiah Fears supplied plenty individually, leading the Pelicans with 24 points and five assists on 9-of-16 shooting. The next step is balancing his own scoring with making sure everyone else gets opportunities.

That responsibility also belongs to veteran guard Dejounte Murray and coach Jamahl Mosley. Murray finished with seven points and four assists, shooting 3-of-11.

The problems extended beyond distributing shots.

Minnesota collected 17 offensive rebounds, while Herb Jones fouled out with 10:41 remaining after committing three quick fourth-quarter fouls. That left New Orleans without its best perimeter defender for most of a quarter in which it surrendered 38 points.

Four straight wins after an 0-4 start showed the Pelicans can put things together. One loss doesn’t erase that.

But Williamson and Murphy combining for 23 points on so few opportunities is a difficult formula to trust. The Pelicans have enough offensive talent to make opponents uncomfortable. They need to make better use of it.

MORE HOOPS | Available NBA free agents by position⁠