# 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season

The 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 19th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On August 15, 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Alvin Gentry after five seasons with the team. On October 22, 2020, the Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach, who was also fired on June 16, 2021, after just one season with the team. The Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season following a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on May 12, 2021.
Following the season, the Pelicans and head coach Stan Van Gundy mutually agreed to part ways.

## Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Club |
| 1 | 13 | Kira Lewis Jr. | PG | United States | Alabama |
| 2 | 39 | Elijah Hughes | SF | United States | Syracuse |
| 2 | 42 | Nick Richards | C | Jamaica | Kentucky |
| 2 | 60 | Sam Merrill | SG | United States | Utah State |
After their March 11, 2020 game against the Sacramento Kings was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns with a referee, the Pelicans and Kings were stuck with a tied record for the best odds at the #12 pick of the 2020 NBA draft during the Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season. However, as one of the teams invited to the 2020 NBA Bubble, it gave them a chance to move their selection up with a potential playoff spot earned there. Due to poor performances in the bubble, the Pelicans failed to gain any ground there. Even worse, despite gaining an extra loss, their first-round pick moved to #13 instead due to the Kings winning their tiebreaker via March 11 records. The Pelicans also held three second-round picks, with two of the three picks acquired via a three-way trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

## Standings
### Division

| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y – Dallas Mavericks | 42 | 30 | .583 | – | 21‍–‍15 | 21‍–‍15 | 7–5 | 72 |
| x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 4.0 | 18‍–‍18 | 20‍–‍16 | 6–6 | 72 |
| pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 9.0 | 14‍–‍22 | 19‍–‍17 | 6–6 | 72 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 11.0 | 18‍–‍18 | 13‍–‍23 | 6–6 | 72 |
| Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 25.0 | 9‍–‍27 | 8‍–‍28 | 5–7 | 72 |

### Conference

Western Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Utah Jazz * | 52 | 20 | .722 | – | 72 |
| 2 | y – Phoenix Suns * | 51 | 21 | .708 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Dallas Mavericks * | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 8 | pi – Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | .542 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 9 | x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 14.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 19.0 | 72 |
| 11 | New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 72 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 72 |
| 15 | Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 35.0 | 72 |
Notes
* z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
* c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
* y – Clinched division title
* x – Clinched playoff spot
* pb – Clinched play-in spot
* o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* * – Division leader

## Game log
### Preseason

2020 preseason game log Total: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0) :
Preseason: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 11
@ Miami
W 114–92
Zion Williamson (26)
Zion Williamson (11)
Brandon Ingram (6)
AmericanAirlines Arena 0
1–0
2
December 18
vs Milwaukee
W 127–113
Zion Williamson (31)
Adams, Williamson (9)
Lonzo Ball (8)
Smoothie King Center 0
2–0 :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Regular season

2020–21 game log Total: 30–41 (Home: 17–18; Road: 13–23) :
December: 3–2 (home: 1–0; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 23
@ Toronto
W 113–99
Brandon Ingram (24)
Zion Williamson (10)
Brandon Ingram (11)
Amalie Arena 0
1–0
2
December 25
@ Miami
L 98–111
Zion Williamson (32)
Zion Williamson (14)
Ball, Bledsoe (6)
American Airlines Arena Limited seating
1–1
3
December 27
San Antonio
W 98–95
Brandon Ingram (28)
Brandon Ingram (11)
Brandon Ingram (6)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
2–1
4
December 29
@ Phoenix
L 86–111
Zion Williamson (20)
Adams, Melli (8)
Brandon Ingram (6)
PHX Arena 0
2–2
5
December 31
@ Oklahoma City
W 113–80
Brandon Ingram (12)
Steven Adams (10)
Lonzo Ball (9)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
3–2 :
January: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
January 2
Toronto
W 120–116
Brandon Ingram (31)
Steven Adams (10)
Eric Bledsoe (10)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
4–2
7
January 4
Indiana
L 116–118 (OT)
Brandon Ingram (31)
Eric Bledsoe (11)
Brandon Ingram (8)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
4–3
8
January 6
Oklahoma City
L 110–111
Zion Williamson (29)
Adams, Ingram (11)
Steven Adams (10)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
4–4
9
January 8
Charlotte
L 110–118
Zion Williamson (26)
Hart, Ingram, Williamson (8)
Brandon Ingram (8)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
4–5
January 11
@ Dallas
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: May 12)
10
January 13
@ L. A. Clippers
L 106–111
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (37)
Jaxson Hayes (10)
Steven Adams (15)
Staples Center 0
4–6
11
January 15
@ L. A. Lakers
L 95–112
Zion Williamson (21)
Zion Williamson (12)
Brandon Ingram (5)
Staples Center 0
4–7
12
January 17
@ Sacramento
W 128–123
Zion Williamson (31)
Steven Adams (15)
Alexander-Walker, Lewis Jr. (5)
Golden 1 Center 0
5–7
13
January 19
@ Utah
L 102–118
Zion Williamson (32)
Zion Williamson (9)
Ball, Ingram (4)
Vivint Smart Home Arena Limited seating
5–8
14
January 21
@ Utah
L 118–128
Zion Williamson (27)
Steven Adams (16)
Lonzo Ball (5)
Vivint Smart Home Arena Limited seating
5–9
15
January 23
@ Minnesota
L 110–120
Brandon Ingram (30)
Zion Williamson (11)
Lonzo Ball (7)
Target Center 0
5–10
January 25
San Antonio
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: April 24)
16
January 27
Washington
W 124–106
Ingram, Williamson (32)
Steven Adams (18)
Brandon Ingram (8)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
6–10
17
January 29
Milwaukee
W 131–126
Brandon Ingram (28)
Steven Adams (20)
Lonzo Ball (8)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
7–10
18
January 30
Houston
L 112–126
Zion Williamson (26)
Lonzo Ball (8)
Eric Bledsoe (5)
Smoothie King Center Limited seating
7–11 :
February: 7–8 (home: 5–3; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
February 1
Sacramento
L 109–118
Brandon Ingram (20)
Josh Hart (13)
Lonzo Ball (5)
Smoothie King Center 1,440
7–12
20
February 3
Phoenix
W 123–101
Zion Williamson (28)
Steven Adams (13)
Ingram, Williamson (6)
Smoothie King Center 1,440
8–12
21
February 5
@ Indiana
W 114–113
Brandon Ingram (30)
Steven Adams (12)
Brandon Ingram (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
9–12
22
February 6
Memphis
W 118–109
Zion Williamson (29)
Brandon Ingram (12)
Lonzo Ball (7)
Smoothie King Center 1,440
10–12
23
February 9
Houston
W 130–101
Brandon Ingram (22)
Josh Hart (17)
Zion Williamson (7)
Smoothie King Center 1,900
11–12
24
February 10
@ Chicago
L 116–129
Zion Williamson (29)
Adams, Hart (6)
Lonzo Ball (7)
United Center 0
11–13
25
February 12
@ Dallas
L 130–143
Zion Williamson (36)
Willy Hernangómez (9)
Lonzo Ball (7)
American Airlines Center Limited seating
11–14
26
February 14
@ Detroit
L 112–123
Ingram, Williamson (26)
Steven Adams (12)
Brandon Ingram (7)
Little Caesars Arena 0
11–15
27
February 16
@ Memphis
W 144–113
Zion Williamson (31)
Josh Hart (9)
Brandon Ingram (7)
FedEx Forum 1,982
12–15
28
February 17
Portland
L 124–126
Zion Williamson (36)
Willy Hernangómez (17)
Brandon Ingram (6)
Smoothie King Center 1,940
12–16
29
February 19
Phoenix
L 114–132
Brandon Ingram (25)
Willy Hernangómez (13)
Lonzo Ball (12)
Smoothie King Center 1,940
12–17
30
February 21
Boston
W 120–115
Brandon Ingram (33)
Willy Hernangómez (13)
Ball, Williamson (4)
Smoothie King Center 1,940
13–17
31
February 24
Detroit
W 128–118
Zion Williamson (32)
Steven Adams (15)
Ball, Ingram (8)
Smoothie King Center 2,700
14–17
32
February 25
@ Milwaukee
L 125–129
Zion Williamson (34)
Steven Adams (13)
Lonzo Ball (8)
Fiserv Forum 1,800
14–18
33
February 27
@ San Antonio
L 114–117
Brandon Ingram (29)
Zion Williamson (14)
Ingram, Williamson (5)
AT&T Center 0
14–19 :
March: 7–6 (home: 5–4; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
34
March 1
Utah
W 129–124
Ingram, Williamson (26)
Steven Adams (11)
Lonzo Ball (8)
Smoothie King Center 2,700
15–19
35
March 3
Chicago
L 124–128
Zion Williamson (28)
Zion Williamson (9)
Eric Bledsoe (10)
Smoothie King Center 2,700
15–20
36
March 4
Miami
L 93–103
Brandon Ingram (17)
Josh Hart (8)
Brandon Ingram (9)
Smoothie King Center 2,700
15–21
37
March 11
Minnesota
L 105–135
Zion Williamson (24)
Josh Hart (13)
Lonzo Ball (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
15–22
38
March 12
Cleveland
W 116–82
Brandon Ingram (28)
Steven Adams (17)
Lonzo Ball (6)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
16–22
39
March 14
L. A. Clippers
W 135–115
Zion Williamson (27)
Adams, Ball (8)
Eric Bledsoe (8)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
17–22
40
March 16
@ Portland
L 124–125
Brandon Ingram (30)
Josh Hart (8)
Lonzo Ball (17)
Moda Center 0
17–23
41
March 18
@ Portland
L 93–101
Zion Williamson (26)
Adams, Williamson (10)
Lonzo Ball (8)
Moda Center 0
17–24
42
March 21
@ Denver
W 113–108
Ingram, Williamson (30)
Steven Adams (13)
Brandon Ingram (8)
Ball Arena 0
18–24
43
March 23
L. A. Lakers
W 128–111
Brandon Ingram (36)
Josh Hart (15)
Kira Lewis (6)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
19–24
44
March 26
Denver
L 108–113
Zion Williamson (39)
Zion Williamson (10)
Eric Bledsoe (9)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
19–25
45
March 27
@ Dallas
W 112–103
Zion Williamson (38)
Josh Hart (10)
Zion Williamson (6)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
20–25
46
March 29
@ Boston
W 115–109
Zion Williamson (28)
Josh Hart (15)
Brandon Ingram (9)
TD Garden 2,298
21–25 :
April: 7–10 (home: 3–5; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
47
April 1
Orlando
L 110–115
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (31)
Josh Hart (17)
Eric Bledsoe (6)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
21–26
48
April 2
Atlanta
L 103–126
Kira Lewis Jr. (21)
Willy Hernangómez (9)
James Johnson (6)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
21–27
49
April 4
@ Houston
W 122–115
Lonzo Ball (27)
Willy Hernangómez (12)
Lonzo Ball (9)
Toyota Center 3,268
22–27
50
April 6
@ Atlanta
L 107–123
Zion Williamson (34)
Ball, Marshall (9)
Lonzo Ball (11)
State Farm Arena 2,816
22–28
51
April 7
@ Brooklyn
L 111–139
Eric Bledsoe (26)
Willy Hernangómez (7)
Johnson, Williamson (6)
Barclays Center 1,773
22–29
52
April 9
Philadelphia
W 101–94
Zion Williamson (37)
Zion Williamson (15)
Zion Williamson (8)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
23–29
53
April 11
@ Cleveland
W 116–109
Zion Williamson (38)
Zion Williamson (9)
Brandon Ingram (8)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 4,148
24–29
54
April 12
Sacramento
W 117–110
Brandon Ingram (34)
Steven Adams (16)
Brandon Ingram (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
25–29
55
April 14
New York
L 106–116
Brandon Ingram (28)
Steven Adams (10)
Ingram, Williamson (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
25–30
56
April 16
@ Washington
L 115–117 (OT)
Brandon Ingram (34)
Steven Adams (12)
Naji Marshall (6)
Capital One Arena 0
25–31
57
April 18
@ New York
L 112–122
Zion Williamson (34)
Steven Adams (14)
Zion Williamson (5)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
25–32
58
April 20
Brooklyn
L 129–134
Zion Williamson (33)
Zion Williamson (7)
Naji Marshall (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
25–33
59
April 22
@ Orlando
W 135–100
Brandon Ingram (29)
Willy Hernangómez (12)
Lonzo Ball (12)
Amway Center 3,411
26–33
60
April 24
San Antonio
L 108–110
Zion Williamson (33)
Zion Williamson (14)
Brandon Ingram (6)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
26–34
61
April 26
L. A. Clippers
W 120–103
Zion Williamson (23)
Willy Hernangómez (10)
Lonzo Ball (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
27–34
62
April 28
@ Denver
L 112–114
Brandon Ingram (27)
Lonzo Ball (12)
Lonzo Ball (12)
Ball Arena 4,022
27–35
63
April 29
@ Oklahoma City
W 109–95
Zion Williamson (27)
Ball, Hernangómez (10)
Ball, Williamson (6)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
28–35 :
May: 3–6 (home: 1–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
64
May 1
@ Minnesota
W 140–136
Zion Williamson (37)
Lonzo Ball (11)
Ball, Williamson (8)
Target Center 1,638
29–35
65
May 3
Golden State
L 108–123
Zion Williamson (32)
Zion Williamson (8)
Lonzo Ball (8)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
29–36
66
May 5
Golden State
W 108–103
Lonzo Ball (33)
Zion Williamson (12)
Zion Williamson (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
30–36
67
May 7
@ Philadelphia
L 107–109
Jaxson Hayes (19)
Willy Hernangómez (9)
Hernangómez, Marshall (5)
Wells Fargo Center 5,119
30–37
68
May 9
@ Charlotte
W 112–110
Eric Bledsoe (24)
Willy Hernangómez (16)
Eric Bledsoe (11)
Spectrum Center 4,196
31–37
69
May 10
@ Memphis
L 110–115
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (18)
Naji Marshall (11)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6)
FedExForum 2,507
31–38
70
May 12
@ Dallas
L 107–125
Bledsoe, Hayes (15)
Willy Hernangómez (10)
Eric Bledsoe (4)
American Airlines Center 4,373
31–39
71
May 14
@ Golden State
L 122–125
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (30)
Naji Marshall (13)
Alexander-Walker, Bledsoe (4)
Chase Center 4,155
31–40
72
May 16
L. A. Lakers
L 98–110
Willy Hernangómez (19)
Willy Hernangómez (13)
Naji Marshall (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
31–41 :
2020–21 season schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

Minnesota Timberwolves statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Eric Bledsoe | 71 | 70 | 29.7 | .421 | .341 | .687 | 3.4 | 3.8 | .8 | .3 | 12.2 |
| Brandon Ingram | 61 | 61 | 34.3 | .466 | .381 | .878 | 4.9 | 4.9 | .7 | .6 | 23.8 |
| Zion Williamson | 61 | 61 | 33.2 | .611 | .294 | .698 | 7.2 | 3.7 | .9 | .6 | 27.0 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 60 | 3 | 16.1 | .625 | .429 | .775 | 4.3 | .6 | .4 | .6 | 7.5 |
| Steven Adams | 58 | 58 | 27.7 | .614 | .000 | .444 | 8.9 | 1.9 | .9 | .7 | 7.6 |
| Lonzo Ball | 55 | 55 | 31.8 | .414 | .378 | .781 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 1.5 | .6 | 14.6 |
| Kira Lewis Jr. | 54 | 0 | 16.7 | .386 | .333 | .843 | 1.3 | 2.3 | .7 | .2 | 6.4 |
| Willy Hernangómez | 47 | 12 | 18.0 | .563 | .100 | .667 | 7.1 | 1.1 | .5 | .5 | 7.8 |
| Josh Hart | 47 | 4 | 28.7 | .439 | .326 | .775 | 8.0 | 2.3 | .8 | .3 | 9.2 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 46 | 13 | 21.9 | .419 | .347 | .727 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .5 | 11.0 |
| Naji Marshall | 32 | 10 | 21.9 | .392 | .349 | .707 | 4.6 | 2.8 | .8 | .3 | 7.7 |
| JJ Redick$^†$ | 31 | 0 | 18.6 | .407 | .364 | .957 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .3 | .1 | 8.7 |
| James Johnson$^†$ | 22 | 11 | 24.5 | .434 | .267 | .596 | 4.1 | 2.2 | .8 | .9 | 9.2 |
| Nicolò Melli$^†$ | 22 | 0 | 11.0 | .254 | .189 | .857 | 2.6 | 1.1 | .4 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Wenyen Gabriel | 21 | 0 | 11.5 | .400 | .406 | .647 | 2.6 | .5 | .4 | .4 | 3.4 |
| Wes Iwundu$^†$ | 18 | 1 | 13.9 | .340 | .111 | .824 | 2.6 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 2.8 |
| Sindarius Thornwell$^†$ | 14 | 1 | 5.2 | .333 | .333 | .000 | .4 | .3 | .4 | .1 | 1.2 |
| James Nunnally | 9 | 0 | 5.3 | .385 | .333 | .500 | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 1.7 |
| Didi Louzada | 3 | 0 | 18.7 | .231 | .250 | | 1.0 | 1.0 | .7 | .0 | 2.7 |
| Isaiah Thomas | 3 | 0 | 16.0 | .333 | .250 | 1.000 | 1.3 | 1.7 | .3 | .0 | 7.7 |
| Will Magnay | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | .000 | | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pelicans only.

## Transactions
### Free agency
#### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |

#### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |