Charlotte Hornets vs New Orleans Pelicans

The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans prepared for a tense Tuesday night on November 4, 2025, as the Pelicans hosted the Charlotte Hornets in what already felt like an early-season test of character. Tip-off was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with both teams entering the matchup under different kinds of pressure. The Hornets, sitting at 3-4, sought consistency after a mixed start, while the Pelicans, still searching for their first win of the season at 0-6, were desperate to regain confidence in front of their home crowd.

The injury report told much of the story leading into the game. Charlotte once again ruled out star point guard LaMelo Ball due to a lingering right ankle impingement, while Josh Green remained unavailable with a shoulder injury. Rookie forward Brandon Miller also joined the list after suffering a shoulder subluxation, leaving the Hornets without two key perimeter scorers. For New Orleans, things weren’t much brighter. Zion Williamson was ruled out with a hamstring strain, depriving New Orleans Pelicans of their main interior weapon. Center Yves Missi was listed as questionable with an illness, and guard Dejounte Murray continued to recover from an Achilles rupture that has sidelined him since preseason. These absences forced both benches into larger roles, with players like Nick Richards and Dyson Daniels expected to see extended minutes.

Strategically, the matchup presented contrasting approaches. Charlotte coach Steve Clifford leaned toward tempo and transition play, instructing his team to push the ball early and rely on Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier to generate offense in Ball’s absence. His system encouraged off-ball spacing and quick decision-making to prevent stagnation in half-court sets. On the other side, Willie Green’s tactical focus for the Pelicans was centered around interior defense and shot selection. Without Zion’s presence inside, Green emphasized collective rebounding, slower offensive possessions, and better shot distribution through Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum. Expecting a tighter, more physical contest, Green’s adjustments also included more zone coverage to limit Charlotte’s rhythm from beyond the arc.

Media coverage before tip-off reflected the growing tension in New Orleans. Most headlines framed the game as a must-win for the Pelicans, pointing to their 0-6 start as unacceptable for a team once viewed as a playoff contender. Commentators noted that the Hornets, despite missing key names, had been more cohesive defensively and seemed to be playing with greater confidence in recent outings. Many sports outlets labeled the matchup as a battle of desperation—one team trying to avoid a crisis, the other trying to sustain early momentum. There was also considerable attention on how Ingram and McCollum would respond without Williamson, and whether Rozier could lead Charlotte’s offense efficiently against a taller, more physical opponent.

Inside the studio, analysts debated which side had the greater psychological edge. Some believed the Pelicans’ home-court energy could finally spark their breakthrough, while others argued that Charlotte’s balance and defensive work rate made them the more stable side. Conversations centered around Green’s defensive rotations and Clifford’s decision to shorten his bench rotations to preserve rhythm. Analysts predicted a scrappy contest, low in scoring but high in intensity, hinging on which team could control tempo and win the battle on the boards. As game time approached, the feeling was that both teams had more to lose than to gain — a reflection of just how early pressure had begun to shape the narrative of their seasons.

Watch and Download Charlotte Hornets vs New Orleans Pelicans – Tuesday  04 November, 2025, NBA Full Game and Highlights Replay 2025-2026 – NBA Regular Season.