Pelicans Shine in Historic NBAxNBL Melbourne Series Opener with Victory Over Melbourne United

The opening match of the inaugural NBA x NBL: Melbourne Series drew a crowd of nearly 15,000 fans, including courtside presence from Kevin Garnett, as the New Orleans Pelicans secured a 107-97 victory against the determined Melbourne United at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night.

The NBA team expanded their lead to 16 points, appearing to have the game under control, but they had to fend off a late challenge from Melbourne. Zion Williamson showcased his skills, contributing 15 points and five assists, while Trey Murphy III led the team with 18 points. Croatian player Karlo Matkovic added six points along with four rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist to the mix. On the opposing side, Milton Doyle emerged as the standout performer with a game-high 25 points.

In a separate preseason event held at Etihad Arena, the New York Knicks kicked off their 2025 NBA preseason by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers, 99-84. French player Pacome Dadiet started for Mike Brown’s team, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds. Meanwhile, French teammates Guerschon Yabusele and Mohamed Diawara came off the bench but did not score, contrasting with the contributions from German Ariel Hukporti and Ukrainian Alex Len, who recorded six and five points, respectively. For the 76ers, Turkish player Adem Bona managed four points in the loss.

Preseason games will be ongoing in the coming days as more teams based in North America join the action. Notably, the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns will face off in Palm Desert on Friday, while the Pelicans will remain in Melbourne to challenge the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday, paralleling a rematch between the Knicks and 76ers in Abu Dhabi.

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