CJ McCollum scored 38 points to lead a New Orleans Pelicans team playing without the suspended Zion Williamson past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-115 on Friday night.
Williamson was suspended for one game for violating team policy, including repeatedly being late to practices or flights. The Pelicans also played without forward and top defenseman Herb Jones. Jones is sidelined indefinitely due to a posterior labral tear in his right shoulder.
McCollum was enough for the Pelicans with eight wins to topple a 76ers team playing without All-Star center Joel Embiid. Embiid missed his third straight game due to a sprained left foot. This season he dropped out 23 times.
Paul George had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey had 30 points and 12 assists. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 21 points.
Pelicans: He broke a two-match losing streak and won for only the third time since December 7. Jordan Hawkins helped matters with 11 points and Dejounte Murray had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
76ers: Yes, the 76ers are Embiid’s team, but it’s surprising how bad they are without him in the lineup. The Sixers are just 8-15 when he doesn’t play. The Sixers were pushed until the final minute before stopping the lowly Wizards home on Wednesday. They are 15-21 and are just hoping to make the play-in tournament at this point.
Hawkins buried a 3 in the third for a 70-67 lead and Murray sank one for a 76-67 and New Orleans stopped every Sixers run from there. McCollum buried a 3 in the fourth to cut the lead to 10 points and put the finishing touches on the victory with a 10-foot step-back jumper.
McCollum hit four threes and made 10 of 20 total shots from the floor.
Pelicans play in Boston on Sunday and 76ers visit Orlando.
