3 Keys For The Atlanta Hawks To Defeat The New Orleans Pelicans

It’s been a rough start for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2026-27. Their lone win so far is against the worst team in the NBA, the injury-riddled Sacramento Kings . As the Atlanta Hawks begin a three-game road trip, it would be easy for them to overlook this game. However, the Hawks are incentivized to beat the Pelicans for draft-related purposes. Atlanta still holds rights to a 2027 first-round pick swap between New Orleans and the Milwaukee Bucks. The worst of the two picks must finish outside the top four to convey. If the Hawks want to avoid a letdown tonight, they must do these three things to defeat the Pelicans. The Hawks Need to Force Turnovers and Get Out in Transition A big reason for New Orleans’ early struggles is their high turnover rate. The Pelicans rank 24th in turnovers per game (17.4). One thing is certain: if you can get out in transition against New Orleans, you have a good chance to score. The Pelicans allow baskets in transition 55.1% of the time, the eighth-worst rate in the NBA. New Orleans is not a great defensive team to begin with. They’ve allowed 121.6 points per game , the fifth-worst mark in the NBA. Hawks Head Coach Quin Snyder preaches running in transition, and this game is set up for Atlanta to do exactly that. The Hawks are fifth in the NBA in opponents’ turnovers per game (18.3). Combine that with the Pelicans’ high turnover frequency, and you have a recipe to control the game in your favor. The thing is, both teams like to play fast. New Orleans ranks third in the NBA in pace, and Atlanta isn’t far behind, ranking seventh. When two teams that play fast get together, the turnover margin becomes essential. Another area to watch is the Pelicans’ steals and the Hawks’ turnovers. New Orleans is the best team in the NBA at getting steals. They average 13.4 steals per game . Conversely, Atlanta ranks third in fewest turnovers per game. They average only 13.8 turnovers per game. It will be interesting to see how the Hawks limit turnovers on the offensive end. The Hawks Must Keep the Pelicans on the Perimeter Simply put, the Pelicans are not a good three-point shooting team. Despite ranking fourth in field goal percentage (48.9%) overall, they are fourth-worst in three-point percentage (30.1%). The thing is, they also don’t attempt or make threes at a high rate. New Orleans is dead last in the NBA in three-point attempts per game (30.6) and total made threes (46). Entering Saturday, they are the only team in the league with fewer than 50 three-pointers made. The strength of Atlanta’s defense is on the perimeter. Opposing teams shoot 31.3% from three , the sixth-best mark in the NBA. The Hawks will look to keep the Pelicans out of the paint and force them to take threes on the perimeter. An easy way to slow down New Orleans is by keeping them in the half-court. Because of their fast pace, the Pelicans rank second in the NBA in possessions per game (109.4). Atlanta can slow down their frenetic pace by limiting turnovers on their offensive end of the floor. The Hawks Must Win on the Glass An area where both teams have struggled this season is on the glass. The Hawks rank 21st in rebounds per game (43.3). Meanwhile, New Orleans is about the same. They rank 22nd in rebounds per game (43). For the Hawks, extra possessions will become critical. However, the Pelicans rank fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounds allowed per game. Rebounding in general will be a difference maker, but stealing extra possessions on offensive rebounds will be a big help. Atlanta’s lack of size down low may be a reason for their low rebounding numbers. They simply don’t have a glass-cleaning big who can snag rebounds at a high rate. On the other hand, New Orleans doesn’t have a single player who averages at least eight rebounds per game. Jalen “pick your poison” Johnson is 11th in rebounds per game so far this season (9.3 per game). The rebound battle will be crucial in an area where neither team has a clear advantage. The Last Word The Hawks’ injury report remains the same as it’s been for most of the season. Jock Landale will continue to be on the report with a nasal fracture, but he hasn’t missed any games because of it. Atlanta has won four games in a row against the Pelicans, dating back to the 2024-25 season. They will look to keep the streak alive tonight and give New Orleans their fifth loss of the season. Featured Image: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images More NBA News: Ja Morant’s Injury: How The Blazers Will Have To Adjust Chet Holmgren Injury Adds to Nightmarish OKC Season Panic Button Pressed After A 1-4 Start In New Orleans