NEW ORLEANS – Brandon Ingram scored 33 points and capped the game with a baseline turnaround jumper with 1:46 left, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame the absence of Zion Williamson to beat the Chicago Bulls by 123 in a game between both clubs on Wednesday night :111. Season opener.

CJ McCollum scored 23 points for New Orleans and newly signed point guard Dejounte Murray had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Williamson was sidelined shortly before the game with an illness, marking his 207th missed regular-season game since being named No. 1 overall in 2019.

Zach LaVine scored 27 points and Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls, who trailed for most of the second half and as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Smith scored 15 points and Josh Giddey added 14 points for Chicago.

Jordan Hawkins scored 13 points for the Pelicans.

Takeaways

New Orleans may rely more on its first-round pick, 7-foot-1 Yves Missi, than initially thought. Missi was considered too raw to play significant minutes earlier this season when he was drafted 21st overall by Baylor in June. However, with the Pelicans missing their best frontline player in Williamson, they played Missi for 23 minutes and he was effective, finishing the game with 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and a steal.

When Missi went to the bench with 4:20 left, he received a standing ovation.

Key moment

Ingram’s third three-pointer of the game gave the Pelicans a 107-92 lead and capped a decisive 13-2 run in which Ingram scored eight points, including another three and two free throws.

Key statistics

Chicago turned the ball over 21 times, giving the Pelicans 30 points. LeVine committed seven turnovers, marring an otherwise productive offensive performance.

Next

The Bulls visit Milwaukee on Friday, the same day the Pelicans open a four-game trip to Portland.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba