2026 NBA Summer League
2026 NBA Summer League: Pelicans use late comeback to beat Hornets
Hunter Dickinson scored 21 points and the Pelicans erased an 18-point deficit to beat the Hornets in Summer League play Saturday.
Austin Remo, RotoWire
Updated on July 11, 2026 11:13 PM
Kobe Bufkin dropped 19 points on the Hornets on Saturday
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Pelicans 95, Hornets 91: Box Score | Game Detail
LAS VEGAS – The New Orleans Pelicans climbed all the way back from 18 points down to defeat the Charlotte Hornets, 95-91, in Summer League play on Saturday.
The Pelicans’ Hunter Dickinson paced all scorers with 21 points, adding three rebounds and three assists. Kobe Bufkin was everywhere, as he dropped a full line with 19 points, six boards, five dimes, four steals and a block.
Charlotte shot 63.3 percent from the field through two quarters and held a 56-45 lead at halftime. New Orleans finished the first half shooting 39 percent overall, but those numbers completely flipped over the final two frames.
The Pelicans took over in the fourth quarter, dominating to the tune of a 30-15 scoring advantage behind Dickinson and Bufkin. They powered a 15-2 run over the final four minutes, a stretch that saw New Orleans earn its first lead of the day, 92-91, with just 49.3 seconds remaining.
The Hornets fell apart once they gave up their commanding lead. They went 4-for-18 (22.2%) from the field in the fourth while allowing the Pelicans to go 9-for-14 (64.3%) overall, including a scorching 6-for-7 in the paint. Charlotte also struggled mightily with turnovers, coughing it up 22 times compared to just seven total for New Orleans, resulting in a 32-7 advantage in points off turnovers for the Pels.
Jalon Moore chipped in 13 points, four rebounds and three steals for New Orleans, and Jaron Pierre Jr. popped for 12 points, two boards and a steal off the bench.
Liam McNeeley paced four Hornets in double-figures scoring with 17 points, adding five rebounds, five dimes and two blocks. Tidjane Salaün (nine rebounds, two assists), Christian Anderson (two 3-pointers) and Michael Ajayi (nine rebounds, one steal, one block) each scored 12 points apiece in the loss.
Both the Pelicans (1-1) and Hornets (1-1) resume play Sunday, as New Orleans will face the Phoenix Suns (3 ET, ESPN2) and Charlotte takes on the Boston Celtics (5 ET, ESPN2).
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