Pelicans Roll Out Chaotic Starting Five Against Warriors After Defensive Meltdown

The New Orleans Pelicans are rolling out a Sunday starting five that looks less like a cohesive basketball unit and more like a randomly generated NBA 2K lineup. According to Underdog NBA, New Orleans is starting Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Karlo Matkovic against the Golden State Warriors.

If you are wondering who is running the show, look no further than Fears. The young point guard just turned the stat sheet into his personal diary, dropping 22 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals, and four blocks in a recent home win.

"Underdog NBA tweeted: 'Lineup alert: Pelicans will start Fears, Murray, Murphy III, Williamson, Matkovic on Sunday.'"

For context, that absurd stat line makes Fears just the fourth player in Pelicans franchise history to log 20-plus points, 10-plus assists, two steals, and two blocks in a single game. He joins Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, and Baron Davis. That is elite company for a guy most casual fans would have had to Google a week ago.

New Orleans desperately needs a spark after getting absolutely torched by the Los Angeles Clippers 139-123 on Friday. Throwing Matkovic into the frontcourt next to Zion is certainly a choice, but when your defense is bleeding points like a horror movie extra, you might as well try something weird.

Anyone looking at player props for Sunday’s matchup is going to have a field day trying to price Fears. After a 13-assist explosion, the market is going to aggressively adjust, making his playmaking lines the most fascinating number on the board.

We will find out quickly if this chaotic five-man group is a stroke of genius or a desperation heave. If they cannot get stops against Golden State, expect the Pelicans to be back at the drawing board by Monday morning.