Reeves scored 34 points, had four rebounds, and three assists in 40 minutes in Wednesday’s 128-100 loss to Cleveland.
Reeves was the best offense on Wednesday night with three-pointers that proved to be the best his team could do in nailing their way through he scored at least 30 points even if they lost the game. Reeves set personal bests on threes and points to extend a run of at least two in a row.
Some of New Orleans‘ recent draft picks have paid off well, as the team took Trey Murphy and Herb Jones with picks No. 17 and No. 35 in 2021. This season, in a tough game in Ohio, while playing against the NBA‘s best team and missing important players, the Pelicans’ 2024 draft picks showed their skills.
In a tight first half in which the best players on the team had rookie center Yves Missi, picked No. 21, and guard Antonio Reeves, picked No. 47, the Bulls got outmuscled and went down 25 points behind in the third quarter.
Antonio Reeves: Birthday Boy
Reeves was the first player in the Olympics to score 34 points when he did so on his 24th birthday. He busted his old career-high of nine points with 17 before halftime. He played 40 minutes which isn’t normal for a man who sits; the Pelicans need him. For his part, Young shot 14 of 25 overall and made 4 of 12 three-pointers, hitting 10 of 13 shots from close range.
Reeves nearly broke the record for points scored by a bench player in one game. The record set by Jose Alvarado of New Orleans against Denver back in December 2022 is 38 points.
“It means a lot,” Reeves said about how he played. “It means everything. The coaches believe in me, and my teammates believe in me. I just played my hardest and gave it 100%. It’s my birthday, and I had to do my best. I went out there and competed.”
Reeves had to play more because Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Herb Jones, and Dejounte Murray were hurt. So far in the series mostly in blowouts before Wednesday’s game of eight, He had played 52 minutes.
“It’s awesome to see him play with energy and confidence,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “I would like to thank assistant coach Jodie Meeks and our Birmingham Squadron team. He worked with coach TJ Saint and the other coaches there. They stayed dedicated and worked hard. It all pays off when you get on the court.”
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