NEW ORLEANS — The Pelicans selected five players to start Saturday's game against Atlanta. Saddiq Bey was not among them.
Bey responded by scoring a team-high 25 points off the bench in New Orleans' 121–99 victory, apparently operating under the radical belief that basketball games can still be influenced after the opening tip.
He shot 9-for-13 from the field and added six rebounds, providing exactly the kind of production that normally earns a player a starting role — except without requiring him to participate in the ceremonial first possession.
New Orleans also received 20 points and seven assists from rookie Jeremiah Fears, as the Pelicans continued looking considerably more functional than they had during their opening four losses.
The starters helped establish a 35–18 first-quarter lead. Bey then made sure Atlanta never developed any serious interest in making the game competitive.
For a league obsessed with starting lineups, roles and rotations, Bey's performance was a reminder that a player can be important without having his name announced while the lights are dimmed.
The Hawks would probably have preferred that the distinction came with a scoring restriction.
Instead, Bey was free to check in, find good shots and contribute to a 22-point victory like someone who had never received instructions to act like a reserve.
The Pelicans may still have questions about their best starting five.
Their best six certainly looked more interesting Saturday.
