Pelicans Make History with NBAs First-Ever Game in Australia, Defeating Melbourne United

The inaugural NBAxNBL: Melbourne Series kicked off with a packed house at the Rod Laver Arena, where nearly 15,000 fans, including courtside celebrity Kevin Garnett, witnessed the New Orleans Pelicans secure a 107-97 win against a determined Melbourne United on Friday night.

Initially taking a commanding 16-point lead, the Pelicans found themselves needing to fend off a spirited challenge from their opponents. Zion Williamson shone during the game, contributing 15 points and five assists, while Trey Murphy III led the team in scoring with 18 points. Croatian player Karlo Matkovic also made an impact with six points, four rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist. For Melbourne, Milton Doyle emerged as the standout performer with a game-high 25 points.

In other preseason action, the 2025 NBA schedule commenced at Etihad Arena, where the New York Knicks triumphed over the Philadelphia 76ers with a score of 99-84. Mike Brown’s team featured French rookie Pacome Dadiet, who started and recorded four points and two rebounds. Fellow French players Guerschon Yabusele and Mohamed Diawara came off the bench but didn’t manage to put points on the board, unlike German player Ariel Hukporti and Ukrainian Alex Len, who scored six and five points, respectively. On the other side, Adem Bona from Turkey finished with four points in a losing effort.

The preseason will see more action in the following days, as additional teams from North America join the fray. On Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers are set to clash with the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert. Meanwhile, the Pelicans will remain in Melbourne to take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix, while the Knicks and the Sixers prepare to face off again in Abu Dhabi.

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